Famed Pakistani actress Mahira Khan has lent her support to women footballers, asking people to “respect the game, respect the players.” 

She raised her concerns after Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) headquarters was attacked in Lahore, leading the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee (NC) to hand over their possessions. 

As a result, the ongoing women’s championship taking place in Karachi was canceled by the committee, according to The Express Tribune. 

Following this, Karachi United also pulled out of the National Women's Football Championship, which is now being organised without the PFF committee. 

Many sports fans expressed their concerns over the future of football in Pakistan and called it a "dark day". Pakistani television actress Yumna Zaidi was the first to raise her voice for women footballers. 

Mahira Khan, who is a known global face also lent her support to the women footballers. Sharing a video of Hajra Khan, who is the captain of the Pakistan women's national football team, on her Instagram stories, Mahira Khan wrote: “Respect the game!!! Respect the players!!” 

She also shared a press release posted by Hajra, the title of which read, “We too are responsible for upholding the integrity of the game as it is challenged by politicised governance.” 

Pakistan's men and women national team players have expressed their fear that their careers could be jeopardised with the country's football federation (PFF) staring at a FIFA ban after a forced takeover of its national headquarters in Lahore. 

Harja tweeted, “Today, we stand our ground and we stand it together! #NoMoreSilence.” And also used the hashtag #saveusfromFIFAban #footballPakistan #FIFABan. 

In a video statement, she said: “We are on the verge of getting banned which means we will not be able to represent Pakistan internationally.” 

"We have worked hard for years, we are disappointed. I want to tell them that please respect the game and the players."