FIFA Suspends Nepal Football Association Over Government Interference -

FIFA has suspended Nepal’s football association with immediate effect, barring the country from all international competitions over alleged government interference. The ban took effect on Wednesday after FIFA found “flagrant violations” of its statutes.

The suspension follows a prolonged dispute between the All Nepal Football Association and Nepal’s National Sports Council. FIFA said the council’s involvement in ANFA’s governance breached its rule that national football bodies must operate independently of government control.

In a letter shared by ANFA on Facebook, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom cited “undue interference by a third party” as the reason for the action. The conflict stems from the sports council’s March 2026 suspension of ANFA for three months during an election process that FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation had already approved.

That suspension was lifted in May, but tensions over delayed elections and demands to amend ANFA’s statutes under Nepal’s sports development act continued.

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Nepal, ranked 175th in the men’s FIFA rankings and 88th in the women’s, now faces an immediate halt to all international matches. The ban also cuts the association off from FIFA development programmes, courses, and funding.

ANFA spokesman Suresh Shah called the suspension “an issue of grave concern” and said talks are underway with stakeholders to resolve it. He warned the ban “impacts our players, barring them from opportunities and dampens dreams of aspiring players.”

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

Ram Charitra Mehta, a member secretary of the council, said the government never wanted the suspension and is seeking alternative ways to address the crisis.