FIFA suspends ANFA indefinitely over government interference
KATHMANDU:- The World Football Federation (FIFA) has suspended the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) indefinitely, citing government interference in the organization.
The World Football Federation (FIFA) has suspended the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) indefinitely, citing government interference in the organization.
FIFA issued a letter on Wednesday stating that Nepal has been suspended. Along with the suspension, it has been stated that Nepal will stop receiving grants from FIFA. Nepal had been receiving more than one billion rupees annually from FIFA for football development.
According to FIFA, the suspension will prevent Nepal from playing international football and youth football, and officials will also be barred from traveling abroad.
The four-year term of ANFA President Pankaj Bikram Nembang ended on Ashad 20. However, Nepali football was embroiled in controversy after the Nembang faction decided to hold early elections five months ago.
After the ANFA leadership prepared for early elections in defiance of the National Sports Council (NSC) and the court, the NSC also imposed a three-month ban on ANFA last Chaitra.
However, the NSC lifted the suspension of ANFA two months later to allow for level-based elections. ANFA became the target of the NSC again after ANFA failed to prepare for level-based elections.
Meanwhile, FIFA has suspended ANFA indefinitely. The National Football Council (NPC) and the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) were also investigating ANFA for alleged financial irregularities.
On the recommendation of the National Security Council (NSC) to investigate financial irregularities, the Immigration Department also turned away ANFA President Nembang and General Secretary Kiran Rai from Tribhuvan International Airport on June 10 when they were about to leave for Mexico to participate in the inaugural session of the FIFA World Cup-2026.
