Kathmandu: All Nepal Football Association( ANFA) former president Ganesh Thapa has claimed that his 10-year ban from all football related activities imposed by international football governing body FIFA has  ended on Tuesday. 

Issuing a press statement on Thursday Thapa said, “My suspension from all football related activities has now concluded after a difficult ten-year period.”  

ANFA President Pankaj Bikram Nembang, however, said that he was unaware if Thapa’s ban had ended or not. “I am not sure, if ten years has passed then his ban might have ended,” said Nembang adding, “Even if his ban has ended he won’t be eligible to be associated with district associations or football clubs. But he can come to the stadium and other tournaments to watch the game.”  

The Adjudicatory Chamber of the Independent Ethics Committee of FIFA had imposed the suspension with immediate effect on November 16, 2015 and a fine of 20,000 Swiss Francs alleging him of misconduct. 

“Mr Thapa, in the context of the 2009 and 2011 elections for the FIFA Executive Committee at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) congress, committed various acts of misconduct over several years, including the solicitation and acceptance of cash payments from another football official, for both personal and family gain,” the Ethics Committee had said in a statement while imposing the ban a decade ago.

Thapa, the longest serving president of the ANFA, had been at the helm of football governing body for two decades from 1995 until he faced 10-year ban by FIFA. Also, the former member and vice president of the AFC, Thapa, regarding his ban said, “This journey has been challenging, but I want to express my gratitude and appreciation for the unwavering support and encouragement I received from my family members, friends and well wishers.”