Critics suggest Yousuf Kargar leverages support from AFC Deputy Secretary-General Waheed Kardani to consolidate control over Afghanistan football, fueling ongoing tensions and financial disputes.
Kabul | by ASJFNesw Desk
Allegations of intertwined interests at the top of Afghan football have resurfaced, centering on Yousuf Kargar, acting head of the Afghanistan Football Federation (AFF), and Waheed Kardani, AFC Deputy Secretary-General. Ali Jawad Ataei, Kargar’s assistant during the South Asia Games and former HR director at AFF, claims Kargar enjoys full backing from Kardani.
Observers and journalists have long speculated that Kardani’s support has facilitated Kargar’s continued stewardship of Afghan football. Reports indicate Kargar, in collaboration with Kardani, influenced the resignation of Mustafa Mehrzad, former national team manager, who had voiced concerns over Kargar’s conduct at the AFC.
The origins of these dynamics trace back to 2017, when Kardani and former AFC official Ali Kafashian visited Kabul to oversee AFF presidential elections. Sources allege that both officials returned to Malaysia after receiving costly gifts from the candidates Kramuddin Karim and Haroon Popal. Subsequently, Kargar’s team petitioned FIFA to suspend Popal’s candidacy, citing incidents in which Popal allegedly attempted to assert influence through armed associates and parliamentary members.
Critics contend that Kargar, alongside Karim’s faction and with backing from influential AFC figures, continues to dominate Afghan football, perpetuating a crisis that yields financial gain for some but leaves fans and the broader sporting community frustrated and disenfranchised.
Afghanistan’s football governance has been marred by factionalism and administrative disputes for years. The AFF’s leadership battles, intertwined with regional football authorities, have frequently drawn international attention. These controversies have affected transparency, player development, and public trust, highlighting structural challenges within Afghanistan’s sports administration.