FIFA Suspends Nepal's Football Association For 'Flagrant Violations'

Last Updated:June 25, 2026, 18:45 IST

FIFA suspends All Nepal Football Association over third party interference, barring Nepal from international competitions and FIFA programs until governance issues are resolved

FIFA has suspended Nepal’s football association, officials said on Thursday and barred the country from all international competitions.

Nepal are currently ranked 175th in FIFA‘s men’s world rankings, while its women’s national team is ranked 88th.

In a letter to the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), FIFA said the suspension was imposed due to “undue interference by a third party", referring to an ongoing dispute between ANFA and Nepal’s National Sports Council, the government body responsible for sports administration, over the governance of football in the country.

FIFA maintains that national football associations must operate independently from government authorities.

On Wednesday, FIFA “decided to suspend ANFA with immediate effect due to flagrant violations of the FIFA Statutes," FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom said in the letter, which ANFA later shared on Facebook.

The National Sports Council had suspended ANFA for three months in March 2026 while the association was preparing for an election process that had been approved by both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation. The suspension was lifted in May.

However, the required elective congress has been repeatedly delayed. During this period, the council issued several directives, including instructions to amend ANFA’s statutes in line with the country’s sports development act.

“The suspension is an issue of grave concern, we are consulting with all stakeholders to lift the suspension keeping Nepal’s football in priority," ANFA spokesman Suresh Shah told AFP.

As a result of the suspension, Nepal will be unable to participate in international competitions, while ANFA will lose access to FIFA development programmes, courses and training opportunities.

“It impacts our players, barring them from opportunities and dampens dreams of aspiring players," Shah added.

FIFA said the suspension would be lifted if the National Sports Council revokes its March decisions and allows ANFA to complete its electoral process.

“The government never wanted this… we are looking for alternative ways to address this crisis," said Ram Charitra Mehta, member secretary of the National Sports Council.

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Feroz Khan

Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent. He embarked on his journey in 2011 and has since acquired vast experience ...Read More

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