NSC suspends ANFA

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Mar. 26: The apex body of Nepali sports, the National Sports Council (NSC), has suspended the leadership of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) for three months.

Issuing a press release on Wednesday, the NSC said it had suspended the ANFA central committee led by Pankaj Bikram Nembang for failing to comply with its directives. 

The statement, signed by Saroj Kumar Pokhrel, chief of the Sports Development Department, confirmed the suspension under Article 29(2) of the Sports Development Regulations 2020. The regulation allows the NSC to suspend any sports association for up to three months if directives are ignored.

The dispute arose after the current ANFA committee attempted to hold early elections three months before the end of its tenure, despite no such provision in its statute. 

The NSC had repeatedly instructed ANFA not to proceed with congress and elections without prior approval, but ANFA pressed ahead and scheduled the polls in Jhapa for 26 March.

On 24 March, the NSC issued ANFA a 24-hour ultimatum asking why disciplinary action should not be taken. 

After ANFA responded that it would not halt the election, citing directives from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA, the council moved forward with suspension.

The NSC accused ANFA of interpreting regulations and statutes to suit its own interests. “Moreover, ANFA described itself as an autonomous body and placed AFC and FIFA directives above national law, disobeying sports regulations and NSC instructions,” the statement read.

The council also said it was not satisfied with ANFA’s clarification sent via email. In addition, the NSC directed ANFA to implement several statutory provisions to align with national sports law, including:

Ensuring uniformity in statutes across national sports federations. Incorporating references to the Sports Development Act 2020 and Regulations 2022 in ANFA’s definitions. Guaranteeing democratic elections for office bearers and members every four years. Establishing provincial and district associations in line with the Act, with proper representation through elections. Holding annual general meetings within three months of the fiscal year’s end and conducting periodic elections every four years, with NSC approval. Amending and revising statutes as required by prevailing law. Conducting elections strictly in accordance with approved statutes and regulations.