Kathmandu: Global football governing body FIFA has warned All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) of suspension if the National Sports Council (NSC) fails to lift its three-month suspension and allow the electoral process to resume from the stage reached prior to the decision.

In a letter addressed to ANFA, FIFA has given the NSC a seven-day deadline to revoke the suspension and provide written confirmation.

The NSC imposed the three-month suspension on March 25—two days before ANFA’s planned early election—alleging that the football body repeatedly defied its directives and proceeded with the electoral process in an arbitrary manner.

ANFA had moved to hold its Ordinary Congress and conduct the early election without NSC approval. Although its four-year tenure runs until June 18, the current leadership under president Pankaj Bikram Nembang opted to advance the executive committee elections by nearly three months, granting voting rights to district committees elected four years ago.

ANFA General Secretary Kiran Rai (left) and President Pankaj Bikram Nembang. 

A significant section of football stakeholders—including ANFA executive committee members, clubs and district associations—opposed the move, describing it as illegitimate and contrary to the association’s own statute.

Despite repeated warnings from the NSC, ANFA proceeded with its plans, prompting the government body to impose the suspension. The NSC also outlined a series of statutory amendments that ANFA must implement for the suspension to be lifted.

The letter, jointly sent by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and addressed to ANFA General Secretary Kiran Rai, states that failure by the NSC to annul the decision within seven days and confirm that ANFA can resume and complete its electoral process “will result in the matter being submitted to the FIFA Council for the immediate suspension of ANFA.”

It further notes that the NSC’s decision prevents ANFA from managing its affairs independently and constitutes a clear case of undue third-party interference.

The letter, signed by FIFA Chief of Member Associations Elkhan Mammadov and AFC Deputy General Secretary Vahid Kardany, has also instructed ANFA to immediately share its contents with the relevant authorities and keep both bodies informed of further developments.

FIFA suspension meant ANFA would be stripped  of all rights under FIFA statutes, including participation in international competitions and access to FIFA and AFC development funding. Nepal would also be barred from competing in any international competition in the suspension period.