Kathmandu: All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), the governing body of Nepali football, has officially suspended the proposed home-and-away format Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League planned for later this year after a hiatus of more than two years.

The last edition of the top-tier league was held from March 3 to June 10, 2023.

“We decided to call off this year’s proposed league acting on suggestion by top-tier clubs,” said ANFA general secretary Kiran Rai during a press conference at ANFA headquarters in Satdobato on Tuesday. “The clubs requested to provide at least 10 months time for preparation and homework before introducing the home-and-away format.”

Rai added that ANFA still plans to organise a top-division league in a different format, though details are yet to be finalized. “We will discuss the new format after the Chhath festival (October 27) and confirm both the structure and the date,” he said, adding, “It will remain a top-tier competition.”

“It is crucial to implement the home-and-away format in the ‘A’ Division League for the professionalism and decentralization of Nepali football,” Rai emphasized.