FIFA Issues Ultimatum: Rescind NSC Suspension or Face Global Exile for Nepali Football
KATHMANDU – The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), Nepal’s national football governing body, is preparing a formal request to the National Sports Council (NSC), the government’s oversight authority for sports, to lift ANFA’s three-month suspension. This move comes after FIFA, the world football governing body, and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the continental governing body for Asia, issued a strong warning to ANFA regarding this suspension. FIFA and the AFC have characterised the National Sports Council’s (NSC) suspension of ANFA as “third-party interference.” Such interference—by a governmental authority in the affairs of a national football federation—is strictly forbidden under FIFA’s international governance regulations and may result in a global ban for the country involved. **FIFA and AFC Issue Ultimatum** FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have issued a joint directive requiring the immediate resumption of the election process. The NSC stopped this process 48 hours before the planned March 27 vote. FIFA has set a seven-day deadline to complete the elections. If this deadline is not met, the matter will be referred to the FIFA Council. This could result in Nepal’s suspension from international football. “The message from Zurich, FIFA’s headquarters, is clear: government interference by the NSC is unacceptable,” an ANFA official stated.  **Repeated Election Delays** The road to the ballot box has been a mess of legal hurdles and administrative challenges. The election process has faced multiple legal and administrative challenges, resulting in three postponements. These include an interim order from the Patan High Court and a delay by the Election Commission. The dispute between incumbent President Pankaj Bikram Nembang and his challenger, Dirgha Bahadur KC (Kumar). While Nembang moved forward with the original election timeline, the rival faction withdrew in protest, prompting the NSC to issue an 11-point directive and subsequently suspend the election. **Impact on National Team** The timing of this administrative suspension is especially harmful. The FIFA Series 2026 and important international friendlies are approaching. National team preparations have already been disrupted. Nepal’s football future depends on the NSC’s decision. If the council does not lift the suspension, Nepal risks a long period of international isolation from football. The responsibility now lies with the NSC.
