Kathmandu: International football governing body FIFA and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have urged the National Sports Council (NSC) to lift the three-month suspension imposed on the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) by May 4 and engage in “constructive dialogue with all stakeholders to find common ground.”

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

Following the suspension, ANFA cancelled its scheduled electoral general assembly.

NSC, ANFA, AFC and FIFA later held a joint virtual meeting on April 13 in a bid to resolve the dispute. During the meeting, the NSC reiterated its position that ANFA should conduct fresh district-level elections for the electoral congress and amend certain provisions of its statute in line with NSC regulations.

ANFA had sought to convene its Ordinary Congress and proceed with early elections without NSC approval.

Although the current executive committee’s four-year tenure runs until June 18, the leadership under president Pankaj Bikram Nembang opted to advance the elections by nearly three months, granting voting rights to district committees elected four years ago.

In a joint letter signed by FIFA Chief of Member Associations Elkhan Mammadov and AFC Deputy General Secretary Vahid Kardany, the governing bodies thanked the NSC and ANFA for the “constructive and frank exchange” during the virtual meeting.

The letter states: “FIFA and the AFC would like to reiterate their request that the NSC take the necessary steps to cancel its decision of 25 March 2026. This decision—requesting ANFA to halt the ongoing electoral process, amend certain provisions of its statutes, and require district associations to amend their statutes and hold elective general assemblies—significantly impacts ANFA’s autonomy and activities and, as previously noted, constitutes, in our view, a clear case of undue third-party interference, in violation of ANFA’s obligations as a FIFA and AFC member association.”

“In light of the above, we remain confident that a solution can be reached and kindly encourage the NSC to reconsider its position and revoke its decision by May 4, 2026, following which we would be pleased to engage in constructive dialogue with all stakeholders to find common ground.”

“In the meantime, we remain at the disposal of all parties for any further engagement, if required,” the letter addressed to ANFA General Secretary Kiran Rai adds.