Kathmandu: National Sports Council (NSC) on Wednesday suspended the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) for three months.

The NSC, the country’s apex sports body, concluded that ANFA repeatedly defied its directives and proceeded with the election process in an arbitrary manner.

According to the suspension letter, ANFA has been penalised under Section 29(2) of the National Sports Development Act 2077, in line with a decision of the Executive Committee.

ANFA had been preparing to hold its Ordinary Congress and an early election on March 27. Although its four-year tenure runs until June 18, the current leadership under president Pankaj Bikram Nembang had opted to conduct the executive committee election nearly three months in advance, granting voting rights to district committees elected four years ago.

The NSC stated that ANFA failed to comply with its directives regarding the election and attempted to conduct the process without approval, in violation of the Sports Act. Despite being asked to furnish a clarification within 24 hours, ANFA’s response was deemed unsatisfactory, prompting the council to impose the suspension.

“Rather than complying with written directives repeatedly issued by the regulatory body (NSC) to implement provisions required under prevailing laws and the association’s approved statute, the association appeared to prioritise directives from the international body to which it is affiliated, presenting them as mandatory and thereby attempting to undermine the principle of the supremacy of national law,” the letter reads.

“An institution that is required to strictly adhere to its duties and responsibilities within the framework of the statute approved by the NSC and in accordance with the law has instead defined itself as an autonomous body, and no satisfactory response has been received as requested by the NSC. Ensuring compliance with prevailing laws and the approved statute by the regulatory body to which the association is registered and affiliated cannot be considered interference,” it adds.

The NSC has also outlined a series of amendments that ANFA must incorporate into its statute for the suspension to be lifted.

NSC’s letter to ANFA in Nepali language in the photos below.