April 1 (Reuters) - Pakistan's men's and women's nationalteam players fear their careers could be jeopardised with thecountry's soccer federation (PFF) staring at a FIFA ban after aforced takeover of its national headquarters in Lahore.

A group of football officials led by Ashfaq Hussain, whichwas elected by the Supreme Court in 2018 to run the PFF but wasnot recognised by FIFA, took over the headquarters on Saturdayand seized control from the FIFA Normalisation Committee headedby Haroon Malik, local media reported.

Ashfaq refused to relinquish control despite a warning fromFIFA, soccer's world governing body, which condemned theincident and said the federation could be banned "should theillegitimate occupation of the headquarters not be lifted" by8pm Wednesday.

The PFF did not immediately respond to a Reuters request forcomment.

Pakistan forward Kaleemullah Khan, who made hisinternational debut in 2011, called on Ashfaq to hand controlback to the normalisation committee and said the politicalturmoil could spell the end of many careers.

"This will damage the image of Pakistan football in theworld," Kaleemullah told Geo News. "The only losing party isPakistani footballers.

"There are thousands of players who have their bread andbutter attached to this game; a ban would mean that theseplayers will become jobless and their careers destroyed."

Pakistan women's team midfielder Abiha Haider echoedKaleemullah's comments.

"I am very sad and disappointed," Abiha said. "The footballfield has been made a political hub, no one actually cares aboutplayers and their hard work.

"This is shameful that we are on the verge of gettingbanned. We have so much uncertainty, I request you all kindlyhave mercy on us, let us play, please save football."

Hajra Khan, captain of the Pakistan women's team, voiced herconcern over the damage caused to the sport in the country.

"We are on the verge of getting banned which means we willnot be able to represent Pakistan internationally," she said ina video statement.

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

(Reporting by Arvind Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by KenFerris) ((Arvind.Sriram@thomsonreuters.com;))