KATHMANDU, June 26: As football fans around the world celebrate the FIFA World Cup in North America, Nepali football has been plunged into uncertainty after FIFA suspended the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA).
The suspension, made public by ANFA on Thursday, has cast doubt over Nepal's international football future and disappointed players, coaches, referees and supporters. FIFA cited government interference in the affairs of the national football body as the reason for the suspension.
The dispute began after the National Sports Council (NSC) suspended ANFA for three months, blocked its election process and prevented its officials from attending FIFA events. FIFA ruled that these actions violated Article 14 of its statutes, which prohibits third party interference in member associations.
The suspension means Nepal will lose FIFA funding and its national and youth teams will be barred from international competitions until the issue is resolved, dealing a major blow to football development.
FIFA/MA Goalkeeping Course kicks off
The conflict dates back to March when ANFA attempted to hold an early election. The NSC declared the election illegal and suspended the football body. FIFA, however, recognized the election process as legitimate and repeatedly urged the government to allow it to continue. The government refused, deepening the standoff.
The NSC also prevented ANFA officials from attending the FIFA Congress and the World Cup, even stopping their passports from being used for travel. FIFA issued repeated warnings, asking the government to allow ANFA to function independently and continue the election process without conditions. Those warnings were ignored by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and the NSC.
NSC Member Secretary Ram Charitra Mehta described the suspension as unfortunate and said the government was working to resolve the dispute. However, discussions about forming an ad hoc committee have raised fresh concerns.
Mehta indicated that the government would first seek dialogue with FIFA but would consider forming an interim committee if the suspension continues. He also said domestic football competitions could continue even if international activities remain suspended.
Such a move could further complicate matters because FIFA recognizes only the current ANFA executive committee led by Pankaj Bikram Nembang. Although the committee's term expired on June 20, FIFA extended its mandate, signaling that it does not support any alternative leadership.
Mehta argued that the NSC had supported ANFA's participation in the FIFA Congress and backed elections through a structured process. He claimed ANFA refused to comply with Nepal's laws, forcing the government to correspond with FIFA. He also noted that Nepal is not the only country facing suspension, saying 17 nations have faced similar action over government interference.
ANFA spokesperson Suresh Shah blamed the crisis on the government's failure to heed FIFA's repeated requests to let the football body operate independently. He urged both sides to stop trading accusations and instead work together to restore Nepal's international status.
Shah also criticized government officials for discussing an ad hoc committee even before the suspension was announced, warning that prolonged uncertainty would severely damage Nepali football. He called for immediate negotiations with FIFA, saying any further delay could have lasting consequences for the sport.
The government lifted ANFA's three-month suspension in May after repeated FIFA warnings but continued to block its officials' international participation and election process. Even ANFA President Nembang and General Secretary Kiran Rai were stopped from boarding flights to attend the FIFA World Cup opening ceremony.
With FIFA demanding that ANFA be allowed to function independently, any further government intervention, particularly the formation of an ad hoc committee, risks prolonging the suspension and pushing Nepali football deeper into crisis.
