A day after its suspension, ANFA cancels early election

KATHMANDU: The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), which was suspended by the National Sports Council (NSC) on Wednesday, has postponed its controversial early election scheduled for Friday.

Issuing a notice on Thursday evening, ANFA’s Election Committee said it was not possible to hold the election as scheduled following the NSC’s decision to suspend ANFA for three months.

On Wednesday, ANFA wrote to the NSC that the election could not be stopped as representatives from FIFA and the AFC had already reached the election venue in Jhapa. ANFA had also warned that postponing the election could lead to suspension by FIFA and the AFC.

Earlier on Thursday, a faction of ANFA, led by Dirgha Bahadur KC, announced at a press conference that it would not participate in the election. The panel argued that the process had become invalid after the NSC suspended ANFA. We respect the council’s rules and laws and therefore stay out of this illegitimate election, it said.

The NSC suspended ANFA for three months on Wednesday, accusing it of repeatedly defying its directives and proceeding with the election process unilaterally.