FIFA suspends the Nepal Football Federation

FIFA has officially suspended the Nepal Football Federation (ANFA) with immediate effect. The organization loses all membership rights within the international governing body until further notice.

The suspension was decided by the Bureau of the FIFA Council and remains subject to confirmation by the full FIFA Council at its next meeting. As a direct consequence, the ANFA is barred from participating in any FIFA-organized competitions and cannot take part in the organization's Congress.

The move follows a period of governance crisis within Nepali football. The National Sports Council (CNS) of Nepal had previously intervened in the federation's affairs, citing disagreement over the timing of the presidential elections. The ANFA had intended to hold early elections before the end of the incumbent president's term, an action not supported by the government sports body.

FIFA's core policy mandates that member associations must manage their own affairs independently without external influence. Because the CNS did not recognize the election process, the federation was left in a state of administrative paralysis. The four-year term of the previous president, Pankaj Bikram Nembang, expired on June 19, leaving the local football structure in limbo.