Nepal’s football governing body, the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), has remained under an indefinite suspension by FIFA, the world football governing body, for 100 days as of Saturday, October 3, 2026. The prolonged ban has prevented Nepal’s national teams and clubs from participating in international competitions, including the upcoming 15th SAFF Championship in Bangladesh in November 2026, marking the first time in 33 years Nepal will miss the tournament.
The suspension, imposed by FIFA on June 25, 2026, cited third-party interference in ANFA’s affairs. Beyond competitive exclusion, the ban has cut ANFA off from crucial FIFA and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) funding, development programmes, and training opportunities.
Adding to ANFA’s woes, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), a unit of Nepal Police, raided ANFA headquarters on Friday, October 2, 2026, to investigate alleged financial irregularities. Following the raid, the Lalitpur District Court on Saturday, October 4, 2026, granted permission to detain ANFA Treasurer Rabindra and an accountant for an additional four days for further investigation.
Background to the Suspension
The dispute leading to FIFA’s intervention stems from a long-running conflict between ANFA and the National Sports Council (NSC), Nepal’s apex sports body. On March 25, 2026, the NSC suspended ANFA for three months, citing violations of the Sports Development Act and non-compliance with directives regarding its election process. This decision led to the postponement of ANFA’s election, which was scheduled to be held in Jhapa on March 27, 2026.
Although the government revoked the NSC’s three-month suspension on May 15, 2026, FIFA concluded that the continued involvement of state authorities amounted to undue third-party interference, leading to the indefinite suspension of ANFA. FIFA had previously warned Nepal about the issue, repeatedly seeking assurances that ANFA would be allowed to manage its affairs and complete its electoral process independently.
FIFA has set clear conditions for lifting the suspension:
- Complete revocation of the National Sports Council’s March 25 decision concerning ANFA.
- Reinstatement of the current ANFA Executive Committee, led by President Pankaj Bikram Nemwang and General Secretary Kiran Rai.
- ANFA to complete its electoral process as soon as possible, in accordance with its statutes and regulations.
Nepal’s Prolonged Ban Compared to Neighbours
Nepal’s prolonged suspension stands in contrast to recent cases involving its neighbours. India was suspended by FIFA in August 2022 over third-party interference after its Supreme Court appointed a Committee of Administrators to take over the functions of the All India Football Federation (AIFF). FIFA lifted the ban after just 11 days, on August 27, after the committee was dissolved and the AIFF administration regained full control.
Similarly, Pakistan faced a FIFA suspension in February 2025 for failing to adopt constitutional amendments for democratic elections. That ban was lifted on March 2, 2025, after the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) Congress unanimously approved the constitution validated by FIFA and the AFC, lasting less than a month.
Ongoing Disagreements and What’s Next
The central disagreement remains between the government and ANFA. The government, through the NSC, whose patron is Prime Minister Balen Shah and chairman is Minister for Youth and Sports Sasmita Pokhrel, maintains that ANFA must comply with the decisions and directives of national sports authorities. ANFA, however, argues that it must operate independently in line with FIFA and AFC regulations, a position supported by FIFA’s statutes.
ANFA’s current leadership claims FIFA recognises them as the legitimate body and has called for direct dialogue with the government to resolve the impasse. A proposal for tripartite discussions involving the government, ANFA, and FIFA has been put forward, but the government has not yet explicitly agreed to it. Meanwhile, the government continues its investigation into ANFA’s financial and administrative activities.
Internally, ANFA faces challenges, with some members petitioning for a special general assembly to dismiss President Pankaj Bikram Nemwang and General Secretary Kiran Rai, a request that has been sent to the ANFA disciplinary committee. The timeline for ANFA to complete its electoral process remains unclear, as do the outcomes of the CIB investigation and the resolution of ANFA’s internal disputes. Until these issues are addressed, Nepal’s football remains outside international competition.
