World football governing body FIFA has suspended the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), effectively barring the country from all international football competitions due to what it described as serious violations of its statutes.
The suspension, announced on Wednesday and confirmed in a letter signed by FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom, stems from what FIFA termed “undue interference by a third party” in the affairs of Nepali football.
At the centre of the dispute is a prolonged governance conflict between ANFA and Nepal’s National Sports Council (NSC), the government body responsible for sports administration in the country. FIFA maintains that national football associations must operate independently of government influence.
According to FIFA, the suspension takes immediate effect and will remain in place until the issues surrounding the administration of football in Nepal are resolved.
“The FIFA Council Bureau decided to suspend ANFA with immediate effect due to flagrant violations of the FIFA Statutes,” Grafstrom stated in the letter, which was later shared by ANFA on social media.
The crisis began in March 2026 when the National Sports Council suspended ANFA for three months while the football body was preparing to conduct elections under a roadmap agreed upon with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Although the suspension was lifted in May, disagreements over ANFA’s electoral process and governance structure persisted.
The council had reportedly directed ANFA to amend its statutes in line with Nepal’s Sports Development Act, a move FIFA viewed as interference in the affairs of the football federation.
Reacting to the suspension, ANFA spokesperson Suresh Shah described the development as a major setback for football in the country.
“The suspension is an issue of grave concern. We are consulting with all stakeholders to ensure it is lifted while keeping Nepal’s football interests as the top priority,” Shah said.
The suspension means Nepal will be unable to participate in international football competitions, while players, officials and clubs could also miss out on FIFA-funded development programmes, training opportunities and educational courses.
“It impacts our players, barring them from opportunities and dampening the dreams of aspiring footballers,” Shah added.
FIFA stated that the suspension would only be lifted if the National Sports Council withdraws its previous decisions and allows ANFA to complete its electoral process without external interference.
Meanwhile, officials of the National Sports Council have expressed regret over the situation and pledged to work towards a resolution.
“The government never wanted this outcome. We are looking for alternative ways to address this crisis,” said Ram Charitra Mehta, Member Secretary of the National Sports Council.
Nepal is currently ranked 175th in FIFA’s men’s world rankings, while the women’s national team occupies the 88th position globally.
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