By Sachit Subba • Football • Sep 17, 2025 16:27 PM • 54 views
Kathmandu – The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), the country's governing body for football, has been penalised by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after pulling out of the upcoming AFC Futsal Asian Cup Qualifiers. The decision was made during a meeting of the AFC's Disciplinary and Ethics Committee on August 21, which imposed a fine of USD 10,000 on ANFA. According to AFC, Nepal withdrew from the qualifiers 106 days before the competition's start, an action deemed a violation under Article 6.7 of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup Indonesia 2026 regulations.
Under Article 11.3 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code, the fine must be paid within 30 days of receiving the notice. However, sources confirm that ANFA has not yet cleared the payment. The withdrawal came despite ANFA initiating preparations earlier this year. The federation had organised an Inter-School Futsal Championship from May 4 to 18, aiming to identify potential players and combine them with national team members for the qualifiers. Around 45–50 players were shortlisted for training, but ANFA abruptly scrapped the camp, citing "technical reasons," before it even began. The AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026 will take place in Indonesia from January 27 to February 7, spread across two cities, with 16 teams competing in the final tournament.
For the qualifiers, 31 nations have been divided into eight groups under a single round-robin format. Group winners will qualify directly for the Asian Cup, while the seven best runners-up will also secure their place in Indonesia. The qualifiers are set to kick off on September 20. The fine adds another layer of scrutiny on ANFA, which has often faced criticism for organisational lapses and inconsistent planning. For Nepalese futsal, the withdrawal represents a lost opportunity to compete at the continental level and showcase emerging talent.
