Web Desk: Karachi bids farewell to a legend as former FIFA referee and KMC Stadium manager Ahmed Jan passes after a prolonged illness.
The Pakistani football community is mourning the loss of Ahmed Jan, a revered figure who served as a former FIFA referee, national footballer, and the long-serving manager of the KMC Football Stadium.
He was around 75 years old when he succumbed to a prolonged illness on Wednesday afternoon.
Ahmed Jan, the former FIFA referee, football organizer and long-time caretaker of Karachi's KMC Stadium, has passed away aged 73 after a prolonged illness. اِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَاِنَّآ اِلَیْہِ رَاجِعُوْنَ pic.twitter.com/yQu7u3zSNr
— FootballPakistan.com (@FootballPak) July 23, 2025
His funeral prayers were held at the KMC Football Stadium, a venue deeply intertwined with his life and legacy. The somber gathering saw a significant turnout from the local football fraternity, including former international and national players, past secretaries of the Sindh Football Association, and various officials from district and club football associations, all paying their last respects to a man who dedicated his life to the sport.
Ahmed Jan's journey in football began as a goalkeeper for the esteemed Makran Sports Club in the Gutter Baghicha area of Old Golimar, representing District West.
His talent and unwavering commitment quickly propelled him into the ranks of the KMC football team, where he became a well-known personality on Karachi's vibrant football scene.
Transitioning from player to official, Jan embraced the role of a referee, ultimately achieving the prestigious status of a FIFA-recognized official a rare accomplishment for Pakistani referees. Even after his playing and active refereeing days, Jan's presence at the KMC Stadium remained constant.
He often playfully referred to himself as the "caretaker" of the stadium, a title he embodied not just officially, but with profound personal dedication. The stadium was unequivocally his second home, and the countless players who graced its grounds were his extended family.
For Ahmed Jan, football was far more than a profession or a passing interest; it was his identity, his source of immense pride, his ultimate purpose, and his enduring passion until his very last breath.
