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On Wednesday, September 17, a shocking news hit the headlines amid the ongoing handshake furore following the India versus Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match in Dubai. In a eye-opening incident, Pakistan was once again part of the uproar as a fake football team from the country was sent to Japan.
While a clear statement from the Japanese authority is still awaited on this incident, but it is reported that the fake team, was deported on immediate grounds as the members carried fake documents posing as football players of a team from Sialkot. According to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Malik Waqas, a key suspect in human smuggling scan registered a football club under the name ‘Golden Football Trial’, under whose name the team traveled to Japan.
‘Fake’ Pakistan football team deported from Japan with strict warning
If reports are to be believed, as per Geo News, Waqas is a human trafficker and he received INR 4 million from each individual to send the team abroad. A PIA spokesperson has said that the individuals were coached to appear as professional football players, where Malik Waqas arranged forged documents including fake Pakistan Football Federation registration and counterfeit papers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
As far as the details are unknown, the FIA has arrested Waqas and opened an investigation into the matter. Waqas also admitted to previously sending around 17 people to Japan in 2024 in a similar manner. This news comes amid the ongoing issue between India and Pakistan on the cricket field.
