Constitution
Foreword
A league is more than a competition. It is an institution, and institutions outlast the people who found them only if they are built on rules that do not depend on any one person remaining in the room.
This Constitution exists to answer the questions a Code of Conduct does not: who holds authority over SuperLiga Pakistan, how that authority is exercised, how it is checked, and what happens to the League if circumstances change. It is deliberately separate from the Code of Conduct, which governs the behaviour of players, clubs, and officials. This document governs the League itself.
SuperLiga Pakistan is, at its founding, a privately organised competition owned and operated by Islamabad Forum for Strategic Studies (SMC-Private) Limited. This Constitution is written honestly about that fact. It does not borrow the language of a member-owned federation it is not. It sets out clear central authority, a genuine voice for participating Clubs short of ownership, and an explicit pathway toward greater shared governance as the League matures and, in time, seeks formal recognition.
This is the foundation the rest of the League is built on.
Part I — Foundation
Article 1 — Name and Status
The name of the League constituted by this document is SuperLiga Pakistan (referred to throughout as "the League").
The League is a private, professionally organised football competition. It is not a statutory body, a government entity, or a member-owned association, and this Constitution does not create any such status.
The League's visual identity, including the SuperLiga Pakistan wordmark and the Markhor device mark, is a trademarked asset held by the League Organizer and licensed for use in connection with the League only as this Constitution and the League Organizer's policies permit.
Article 2 — Legal Structure and Ownership
The League is owned and operated by Islamabad Forum for Strategic Studies (SMC-Private) Limited ("the League Organizer"), a company incorporated in Pakistan.
Ownership of the League, including its commercial rights, trademarks, and governing documents, rests with the League Organizer. Registered Clubs participate in the League under the terms of this Constitution, the Code of Conduct, and their individual Club Registration Agreements; participation does not confer ownership, shareholding, or a governing vote in the League Organizer itself.
Any equity, investment, or shareholding arrangement entered into by the League Organizer in respect of its own corporate structure is a matter of the League Organizer's internal corporate governance and is separate from, and does not alter, a Club's rights and obligations under this Constitution.
Article 3 — Objects and Purpose
The League exists to:
- Establish a professional, disciplined, and sustainable club football competition in Pakistan, built on genuine sporting merit and sound governance.
- Provide a credible pathway for Pakistani players, coaches, and match officials to develop and be recognised, complementing rather than duplicating the work of existing football institutions.
- Operate to a standard of financial transparency, disciplinary fairness, and administrative professionalism consistent with internationally recognised football governance practice.
- Build, over time, toward formal recognition by the Pakistan Football Federation and, through it, the Asian Football Confederation and FIFA.
- Serve as a lasting institution for Pakistani football, structured to continue functioning independently of any single individual's continued involvement.
Article 4 — Relationship to FIFA, PFF and the National Football Pyramid
The League is not currently sanctioned, recognised, or affiliated by FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation, or the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF). Nothing in this Constitution, the Code of Conduct, or any League communication should be read as a claim to such status unless and until it has been formally granted in writing.
The League Organizer has adopted, and directs the League to operate under, the general principles of the Laws of the Game and internationally recognised standards of football governance on a voluntary basis, as set out more fully in Section 4.1 of the Code of Conduct. This Constitution reaffirms that voluntary adoption at the governance level: the League's own structure, officer accountability, and dispute-resolution mechanisms are designed to withstand the same scrutiny a sanctioning body would apply.
The League Organizer's stated policy is to seek, in good faith and without adversarial posture, formal recognition from PFF. Should such recognition be granted, the League Organizer commits to reviewing this Constitution and the Code of Conduct to ensure full consistency with PFF's own regulatory framework as a condition of that recognition, including any changes to Club governance rights that PFF's own rules may require.
Article 5 — Interpretation and Precedence
This Constitution is the League's foundational governing document. Where a provision of the Code of Conduct, a Club Registration Agreement, the Playing Regulations, or any other League document conflicts with this Constitution on a matter of League structure, authority, or governance, this Constitution prevails. On matters of conduct, discipline, and sanctions, the Code of Conduct remains the primary governing document, and this Constitution should be read consistently with it rather than as a replacement for it.
References in this Constitution to "Season," "Club," "Club Owner," "Match Official," "Disciplinary Committee," and similar terms carry the same meaning given to them in Section 2 of the Code of Conduct, unless this Constitution expressly provides otherwise.
Part II — Governance Structure
Article 6 — The League Organizer
The League Organizer, Islamabad Forum for Strategic Studies (SMC-Private) Limited, holds ultimate authority over the League, including its commercial rights, its rules, its brand, and its relationships with sponsors, venues, and football authorities.
The League Organizer exercises its authority through the officers and bodies established in this Part, and delegates day-to-day operational authority to the Chairman as set out in Article 7. Nothing in this delegation removes the League Organizer's ultimate authority to intervene in, reverse, or overrule an operational decision where it considers this necessary to protect the League's integrity or survival.
The League Organizer's registered decisions — including ratification of this Constitution, the Code of Conduct, and any amendment to either — are recorded in the League's official minute book, a copy of which is available for inspection by any Registered Club on reasonable written request.
Article 7 — The Chairman
The Chairman is the League's most senior operational officer, responsible for the League's day-to-day direction, its finances, its commercial relationships, and its dealings with Clubs, sponsors, venues, and football authorities including PFF.
The Chairman is appointed by the League Organizer and holds office at the League Organizer's discretion. The founding Chairman is the individual who established the League on the League Organizer's behalf.
The Chairman's powers include: executing contracts on the League's behalf within authority delegated by the League Organizer; approving or declining Club registration applications on the recommendation of the Secretariat; convening the Executive Committee; and representing the League publicly and in dealings with PFF, sponsors, and media.
The Chairman is accountable to the League Organizer and, on matters within its remit, must consult the Executive Committee as required by Article 24 before taking a Reserved Decision.
Article 8 — The President
The League may appoint a President: a figure of recognised standing in Pakistani football whose role is to represent the League's footballing credibility, advise on football-specific matters including player welfare, competitive standards, and relations with the wider football community, and act as a public ambassador for the League.
The President is a distinct role from the Chairman. The Chairman holds operational and financial authority; the President holds advisory and representational authority on football matters. The President does not hold a vote on financial or commercial decisions reserved to the Chairman and League Organizer under Article 6, but is entitled to be consulted on any Reserved Decision under Article 24 that materially affects the League's sporting standards or its standing within Pakistani football.
The President is appointed by the League Organizer on the Chairman's recommendation, for a term of one Season at a time, renewable by mutual agreement. Either the League Organizer or the President may end the appointment on reasonable written notice.
Where no President has yet been appointed, or the role is vacant, the President's advisory functions under this Article are exercised by the Executive Committee as a whole.
Article 9 — The Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is the League's principal internal decision-making body below the League Organizer itself. It consists of the Chairman, the President (where appointed), and at least one further officer or advisor appointed by the Chairman with relevant football, legal, or financial expertise.
The Executive Committee meets at least once per month during the Season and as reasonably required outside it. A meeting is validly constituted with the Chairman and at least one other member present.
The Executive Committee's role is to take the Reserved Decisions listed in Article 24, to review the League's financial position each Season, and to advise the Chairman on matters referred to it. Decisions are taken by majority vote among members present, with the Chairman holding a casting vote in the event of a tie, save that the President votes on football and sporting matters but does not vote on a Reserved Decision that is financial or commercial in nature.
Minutes of every Executive Committee meeting are recorded and retained by the Secretariat.
Article 10 — The Secretariat and Administrative Officers
The Secretariat is responsible for the League's administrative functions: processing Club registration applications, maintaining official records, handling correspondence, coordinating fixtures and venues, and supporting the Disciplinary Committee's procedural requirements under the Code of Conduct.
The Secretariat may consist of as few as one designated administrator in the League's early Seasons, and is expected to grow as the League's operations expand. The Chairman appoints and is responsible for the Secretariat.
Any deadline, notice period, or procedural requirement set out in the Code of Conduct or this Constitution is administered by the Secretariat, which is responsible for ensuring Clubs and other Participants are given proper and timely notice of their obligations.
Article 11 — The Disciplinary Committee and Appeals Panel
The Disciplinary Committee and Appeals Panel are established and empowered under Part IV of the Code of Conduct, which remains the authoritative source for their composition, powers, and procedure.
For the purposes of this Constitution, both bodies are recognised as independent in their disciplinary function: neither the Chairman, the President, nor the Executive Committee may direct the outcome of a specific disciplinary or appeal decision. This independence is a constitutional guarantee, not merely a procedural courtesy, and exists to protect the League's disciplinary credibility with Clubs, players, sponsors, and any future sanctioning body.
The League Organizer retains authority to change the size, composition rules, or appointment process for these bodies between Seasons, consistent with the amendment procedure in Article 26, but may not intervene in a decision already before them.
Article 12 — The Chief Referee Coordinator
The Chief Referee Coordinator, as established under Section 4 and Section 9 of the Code of Conduct, holds independent authority over the appointment, supervision, and conduct standards of Match Officials.
This Constitution reaffirms that no officer of the League, including the Chairman, may direct the Chief Referee Coordinator's appointment of a Match Official to a specific fixture, consistent with the referee independence guarantee in Section 9.1 of the Code of Conduct.
Part III — Club Participation and the Club Consultative Council
Article 13 — Status of Registered Clubs
A Club that has completed registration under Part VII of the Code of Conduct is a "Registered Club" of the League for the duration of that Season.
A Registered Club is a participant in the League's competition under licence from the League Organizer. Registration does not confer any ownership interest in the League, any shareholding in the League Organizer, or any binding vote over League-wide commercial or financial decisions.
This Article reflects the League's founding structure as a privately organised competition. Article 16 establishes a formal, meaningful channel for Club input short of ownership, and Article 24 identifies the categories of decision on which Clubs must be consulted even though they do not hold a binding vote.
Article 14 — Rights of Registered Clubs
Every Registered Club is entitled to:
- Compete in the League's competition for the Season for which it is registered, on equal sporting terms with every other Registered Club.
- Fair, consistent, and transparent application of the Code of Conduct, the Playing Regulations, and this Constitution.
- Access to the Club Consultative Council established under Article 16.
- Reasonable notice of any change to the Playing Regulations, fixture schedule, or fee structure affecting it.
- A fair hearing before the Disciplinary Committee in accordance with Section 23 of the Code of Conduct before any sanction is imposed on it.
- Inspection, on reasonable written request, of the League's ratified governing documents and any decision of the Executive Committee that directly concerns it.
Article 15 — Obligations of Registered Clubs
Every Registered Club is bound by the Code of Conduct, its own Club Registration Agreement, the Playing Regulations, and this Constitution for the duration of its registration. A Registered Club's specific conduct obligations are set out fully in Section 7 of the Code of Conduct and are not repeated here.
Article 16 — The Club Consultative Council
The Club Consultative Council is the League's formal mechanism for Club input into League governance. It consists of one representative nominated by each Registered Club, and is convened by the Secretariat at least once per Season, and additionally whenever a Reserved Decision under Article 24 is pending.
The Club Consultative Council's function is advisory: it is entitled to be consulted, to receive relevant information in advance of a Reserved Decision, and to submit a formal written position to the Executive Committee, which must consider and respond to it in writing before finalising the decision. The Council does not hold a binding vote.
The Council may raise any matter of general concern to Registered Clubs with the Chairman, who must provide a substantive written response within thirty days.
The League Organizer's stated intention is to expand the Council's role over time, including the possibility of binding votes on defined categories of decision, as the League matures and its relationship with PFF develops. Any such expansion is implemented by amendment to this Constitution, not assumed by default.
Article 17 — Admission of New Clubs
Admission of a new Club is governed by the registration process set out in Section 44 of the Code of Conduct: decided on the club licensing criteria set out in Part VII, applied consistently to every applicant. A rejected applicant is entitled to a written explanation of the specific criteria it did not meet, and may reapply once those gaps are addressed.
Article 18 — Suspension and Expulsion of Clubs
A Registered Club's registration may be suspended or terminated by the Disciplinary Committee in accordance with the Code of Conduct, or by the League Organizer where a Club materially breaches its Club Registration Agreement, including non-payment of fees. A Club facing suspension or expulsion is entitled to the same notice and hearing rights as any Participant under Section 23 of the Code of Conduct, save where Section 25 (Emergency and Summary Powers) applies.
Part IV — Financial Governance
Article 19 — Financial Year and Accounts
The League's financial year runs concurrently with its Season. The League Organizer maintains financial records of League-level income and expenditure separate from its other corporate activities, consistent with the ring-fencing principle in Section 22 of the Code of Conduct.
Article 20 — Revenue and Fees
The League's revenue sources include Club Registration Fees, sponsorship and commercial partnerships, ticketing and gate revenue, and any media or broadcast rights. The Club Registration Fee for a given Season is published before the registration window opens and may not be changed for Clubs that have already registered and paid. Any change to the fee structure for a future Season is a Reserved Decision under Article 24.
Article 21 — Distribution and Use of League Funds
League-level revenue is applied, in order of priority, to: venue and officiating costs; security deposit obligations owed back to Clubs; League operational costs; and thereafter, at the League Organizer's discretion, growth investment or distribution. Nothing obliges the League Organizer to distribute League-level profit to Registered Clubs, consistent with Clubs' status as participants rather than owners.
Article 22 — Audit and Transparency
The League Organizer will make a Season-end financial summary available to the Club Consultative Council within ninety days of Season end. Any Registered Club with a specific concern about its own security deposit or fee payment may request a written accounting of that transaction.
Part V — Decision-Making and Amendment
Article 23 — Ordinary Decisions
Day-to-day operational decisions not identified as a Reserved Decision under Article 24 are made by the Chairman without requirement for further consultation.
Article 24 — Reserved Decisions Requiring Consultation
The following categories require prior consultation with the Executive Committee and, except where noted, the Club Consultative Council:
- Any change to the Club Registration Fee or core financial terms for a future Season.
- Any change to the League's competition format, promotion or relegation structure, or Final Four qualification criteria.
- Any change to the club licensing criteria in Part VII of the Code of Conduct.
- A decision to expand or contract the number of Registered Clubs beyond the published range.
- A decision to formally pursue or accept a specific proposal for PFF sanctioning that would materially alter this Constitution or the Code of Conduct (requires Executive Committee approval, not merely consultation).
- A decision to appoint or remove the President.
- Any amendment to this Constitution or the Code of Conduct.
Article 25 — Amendment of this Constitution
This Constitution may be amended by the League Organizer, on the Chairman's recommendation and following Executive Committee approval, between Seasons. A mid-Season amendment is permitted only where necessary to protect the safety, integrity, or continued operation of the League. Any amendment affecting Club rights or the Council's role requires the Council be consulted first, though not as a binding vote.
Article 26 — Amendment of Subordinate Regulations
The Code of Conduct, Playing Regulations, and standard-form Club Registration Agreement are subordinate to this Constitution and may be amended following the procedure in Section 27 of the Code of Conduct.
Part VI — Dispute Resolution
Article 27 — Internal Dispute Resolution
A dispute between a Registered Club and the League Organizer concerning registration, fees, or this Constitution's application is first raised in writing with the Secretariat, which must acknowledge it within seven days. The Chairman must provide a substantive written response within thirty days.
Article 28 — External Arbitration
Where a dispute is not resolved within sixty days, either party may refer it to arbitration under the Arbitration Act, 1940 (or its successor legislation), with a single arbitrator appointed by mutual agreement or, failing that, by the relevant court. Arbitration is confidential and binding. This Article does not apply to disciplinary matters, governed exclusively by Part IV of the Code of Conduct.
Article 29 — Governing Law and Jurisdiction
This Constitution, the Code of Conduct, and every Club Registration Agreement are governed by the laws of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Subject to Article 28, the courts of Islamabad have exclusive jurisdiction.
Part VII — Dissolution and Continuity
Article 30 — Dissolution of the League
The League Organizer may resolve to dissolve the League only between Seasons, with at least ninety days' written notice, except where continuing to operate has become impossible or unsafe.
Article 31 — Winding Up and Distribution of Assets
On dissolution, the League Organizer must first settle all outstanding security deposit refunds and Match Official fees before any other distribution. The SuperLiga Pakistan trademark, the Markhor device mark, and all League records remain the property of the League Organizer following dissolution.
Article 32 — Continuity of Club Registration Records
Should the League be dissolved, suspended, or succeeded by a differently structured competition, the League Organizer will make reasonable efforts to preserve and, on request, provide a Registered Club with its own historical registration, disciplinary, and match record.
Part VIII — Ratification and Transitional Provisions
Article 33 — Ratification and Effective Date
This Constitution takes effect upon ratification by the League Organizer and applies to the inaugural Season and every Season thereafter until amended. Every officer and Registered Club is bound from the date of their appointment or registration, whether or not separately countersigned.
Article 34 — Transitional Provisions for Season One
Where the inaugural Season begins before the Executive Committee, Club Consultative Council, or a confirmed President have been fully constituted, the Chairman may exercise their powers on an interim basis, provided each body is properly constituted no later than the conclusion of the inaugural Season's group stage, with any interim Reserved Decision reported retrospectively.
Appendices
Appendix A — Organizational Structure
| Body / Officer | Authority | Established By |
|---|---|---|
| League Organizer (IFSS) | Ultimate ownership and authority over the League | Article 2, Article 6 |
| Chairman | Operational, financial, and commercial authority | Article 7 |
| President | Football-specific advisory and representational authority | Article 8 |
| Executive Committee | Reserved Decisions; Season financial review | Article 9 |
| Secretariat | Administration, registration, records, notices | Article 10 |
| Disciplinary Committee / Appeals Panel | Independent disciplinary authority | Code of Conduct Part IV; Article 11 |
| Chief Referee Coordinator | Independent authority over Match Officials | Code of Conduct Sections 4, 9; Article 12 |
| Club Consultative Council | Advisory consultation on Reserved Decisions | Article 16 |
Appendix D — Document Control
| Version | Description | Approved By |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Initial ratified issue of the SuperLiga Pakistan Constitution | League Organizer |
This Constitution should be read together with the Code of Conduct and the current Season's Club Registration Agreement and Playing Regulations.