Fake football team exposed in Japan
Gujranwala/Japan : Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested 22 men who posed as professional football players in an elaborate immigration fraud.
The men, dressed in football kits, claimed they were linked to the Pakistan Football Federation and had matches lined up in Japan. However, Japanese immigration authorities quickly spotted forged documents and deported them.
According to Geo TV, the group was part of a wider human trafficking syndicate that used fake football teams as cover to send migrants abroad. The syndicate charged huge sums, promising the men a new life in Japan.
Key suspect identified in immigration racket
Investigators confirmed that Malik Waqas was the mastermind behind the racket. He set up a fake football club named Golden Football Trial to facilitate the fraud.
The FIA arrested Waqas along with an accomplice, Ali, who acted as a trafficker. Both are accused of organizing travel documents and coaching the men to pose as athletes.
An FIA spokesperson described Waqas’s arrest as a major breakthrough. “This is a significant development in dismantling human trafficking networks operating in Pakistan,” the spokesperson said.
Authorities revealed that each man paid nearly 4 million Pakistani rupees (about ₹12.5 lakh) for the fake trip. The group was reportedly trained to act like professional players, but Japanese authorities uncovered the deception during verification.
Previous trafficking attempts uncovered
During interrogation, Waqas admitted to sending 17 other men to Japan in January 2024 through the same scheme. None of those men returned to Pakistan, raising concerns about their current status.
The FIA has registered a case and launched an expanded probe to identify other suspects. Officials said more arrests are likely as they unravel the network’s financial and international links.
Human trafficking crisis in Pakistan
Illegal immigration remains a widespread problem in Pakistan. Thousands of people attempt dangerous or unlawful routes each year to escape poverty and pursue opportunities abroad.
Many fall prey to traffickers who exploit desperation. Some migrants lose their lives in tragic accidents, while others are stranded in foreign countries without legal status.
To address this, the United Nations launched the Pakistan UN Network on Migration (UNNM) in August. The programme supports Pakistan’s fight against human trafficking and promotes safe migration practices. It aligns with the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Global Compact for Safe Migration.
Officials hope the FIA crackdown on the fake football team will act as a deterrent to similar rackets. However, experts stress that tackling the root causes of migration pressures—poverty, unemployment, and lack of opportunities—remains vital.