Nepal’s participation in the upcoming SAFF Championship in Bangladesh remains uncertain following FIFA’s suspension of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), with football officials urging the government to take immediate action to restore the country’s international football activities.
ANFA has called on the Nepalese government to resolve the ongoing crisis, warning that the suspension has disrupted national team preparations and placed significant financial pressure on players, coaches, referees and association staff.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, ANFA Chief Executive Officer Indraman Tuladhar said the suspension had severely affected the country’s football sector, including the livelihoods of employees. He emphasized that an urgent government decision was necessary to determine whether Nepal would be able to participate in the upcoming SAFF Championship.
ANFA General Secretary Kiran Rai also called for greater clarity from the government, stating that the association is ready to engage in discussions to resolve the situation.
“We must be clear regarding Nepali football. We are ready to discuss this matter with the government,” Rai said.
He added that the impact of the suspension extends beyond the national team, with the daily lives of children at the ANFA Academy also being affected.
FIFA Suspension Blocks International Participation
FIFA suspended ANFA on 24 June, with FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafström stating in a letter that the decision was taken because of “flagrant violations of the FIFA Statutes.”
The suspension followed what FIFA described as undue third-party interference, referring to the ongoing dispute between ANFA and Nepal’s National Sports Council, the country’s sports administration authority.
FIFA’s position is that national football associations must operate independently of government bodies.
The National Sports Council had suspended ANFA for three months in March 2026, while the association was preparing for an election process agreed upon by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The suspension was later lifted in May.
However, the election process has continued to face delays, with the National Sports Council issuing multiple directives, including instructions to amend ANFA’s statutes in accordance with Nepal’s Sports Development Act.
According to ANFA, FIFA has set two conditions for lifting the suspension:
- The National Sports Council’s decision of 25 March 2026 must be fully revoked, and the current ANFA executive committee must be reinstated.
- ANFA must be permitted to complete its ongoing election process in accordance with the association’s statutes.
ANFA has urged the government and the National Sports Council to coordinate with FIFA and the AFC to meet the conditions and restore normal football operations.
Nepal’s SAFF Championship Place at Risk
Nepal’s participation in the upcoming SAFF Championship will depend on whether the FIFA suspension is lifted before the end of September.
If the suspension is resolved in time, Nepal is scheduled to be placed in Group A, alongside Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.
The other group will feature Maldives, India and Pakistan.
The uncertainty surrounding Nepal’s participation has added further pressure to the country’s football administration, with national team preparations already disrupted by the suspension.
International Events Already Missed
As a result of the FIFA suspension, Nepal has already missed several international football commitments, including:
- FIFA Series Women’s Tournament 2026
- An international friendly against Hong Kong
- Various AFC youth championship qualifiers
ANFA also reported that players, coaches, referees and staff members have not received their salaries or allowances. In addition, the suspension has affected access to medical treatment for players.
The financial impact of ANFA’s inactivity has created further stress within the association, with officials warning that the crisis is affecting both football operations and the wider football community.
CIB Raids ANFA Headquarters
The crisis has also been accompanied by an investigation by Nepal’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB).
On Friday, CIB officials raided the headquarters of the All Nepal Football Association in Satdobato, Lalitpur.
CIB spokesperson and Senior Superintendent of Police Anupam Shamsher Rana confirmed that the raid took place at the ANFA office.
According to the bureau, investigators took control of documents considered necessary for the investigation. However, further details regarding the nature of the investigation have not been disclosed.
With Nepal’s international participation, domestic football operations and the livelihoods of football personnel affected, ANFA continues to call for urgent coordination between the government, the National Sports Council, FIFA and the AFC.
The resolution of the suspension will be crucial not only for Nepal’s potential participation in the SAFF Championship but also for restoring stability to the country’s football administration and development programmes.
