Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) General Secretary Kiran Rai has termed the decision to prevent him and ANFA President Pankaj Bikram Nembang from traveling to Mexico to attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as an example of inappropriate third-party interference in Nepali football.
Rai and Nembang were stopped from leaving the country at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) on Tuesday morning by the Department of Immigration, which cited a request from the National Sports Council (NSC)-the country’s sports governing body.
As the dispute over ANFA’s early election escalated, the NSC on March 25 suspended the ANFA and prevented its officials from leaving the country. While the suspension was lifted on May 15, the travel ban against ANFA officials is still in place.
In a social media post on Tuesday evening, Rai said undue interference in ANFA’s affairs had continued despite repeated warnings and directives from FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
“Even after repeated instructions from FIFA and the AFC, inappropriate interference in ANFA has not stopped,” Rai wrote on his Facebook page. “We have only tried to work for the country. If stopping us benefits football, then my best wishes to the government.”
According to Rai, FIFA had invited the presidents and general secretaries of all 211 member associations to attend the World Cup opening ceremony as well as a summit on the governing body’s four-year budget and football development programmes. “It is unfortunate that we were unable to participate in an event that is important for the country,” he said.
Rai also accused former ANFA presidents Ganesh Thapa and Karma Tsering Sherpa of attempting to push Nepali football toward international suspension.
“Congratulations to Ganesh Thapa, Karma Tsering Sherpa and company. You have been partially successful. By misleading the government, you have brought Nepali football to the brink of suspension,” Rai wrote.
