ANFA Suspension Crisis

The National Sports Council board met in Kathmandu under Minister Sasmita Pokharel and was set to discuss ANFA’s international suspension alongside Asian Games and National Games preparations. The agenda shows the football ban remains an active government sports issue.

A new report said administrative negligence and political infighting inside ANFA have worsened Nepal's football crisis after FIFA's suspension, leaving players, clubs, and grassroots programs in limbo. It warned that without urgent reform, Nepal risks losing an entire generation of talent.

The National Sports Council scheduled its 125th board meeting in Kathmandu to discuss the ANFA suspension alongside decisions on Nepal’s Asian Games and National Games participation. The agenda signals continued official attention to the football governance crisis.

A new report said Nepali football remains in crisis after FIFA suspended ANFA over administrative disputes, blocking national teams, clubs, and development programs from international competition. It warned the suspension could cause long-term damage while captain Kiran Chemjong said his goal of helping Nepal win a SAFF title may go unfinished.

Nepal was ruled out of the AFC U-20 Asian Cup qualifiers because FIFA’s suspension of ANFA remains in place. The article says Nepal cannot take part in FIFA or AFC competitions until the ban is lifted, and notes the country has already missed other AFC women’s and youth events.

Nepali players Kiran Kumar Limbu and Manish Dangi publicly urged the government, the National Sports Council, and ANFA to quickly resolve FIFA’s suspension so international football can resume. The article says talks with FIFA are ongoing as the ban continues to threaten careers and development programs.

Nepal risks missing the SAFF Men’s Championship for the first time if FIFA does not lift the ANFA suspension by September 30. Players, coaches, and officials including Hari Khadka and captain Kiran Chemjong urged the government to act quickly to restore football activity.

Former Nepal captain Hari Khadka urged the prime minister to intervene and help lift FIFA’s suspension of ANFA, warning that thousands of players and Nepal’s football future are at risk. He said Nepal could miss the SAFF Championship 2026 unless the ban is removed by September 1.

Nepal's participation in the South Asian Football Federation Men's Championship 2026 depends on FIFA lifting the suspension on the All Nepal Football Association by September 13. Failure to lift the suspension by this deadline will exclude Nepal from the tournament hosted in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Due to FIFA's indefinite suspension of ANFA, Nepal's participation in events like the South Asian Football Federation Championship is uncertain, with football development and international assistance also halted. This suspension has severely disrupted football infrastructure and technical support across Nepal.

Nepal's Martyr’s Memorial ‘A’ Division League has been suspended for over 1,100 days since June 2023, worsened by FIFA's indefinite suspension of Nepali football, causing many players to quit football and seek opportunities abroad amid uncertainty.

Despite delays in funding due to the FIFA suspension and financial restrictions by the National Sports Council, ANFA confirmed it will bear all treatment costs for injured footballer Aashish Rai. Rai is undergoing treatment for a serious leg injury sustained during an under-23 friendly match.

Guglielmo Arena is the latest foreign coach to leave Nepal's national football team prematurely due to ongoing administrative dysfunction and FIFA suspension, continuing a history of similar departures by foreign coaches. This highlights persistent governance issues that have hampered Nepali football development.

Footballer Aashish Rai suffered a serious leg injury in a friendly match and has faced inadequate treatment and funding issues for his rehabilitation, which he had to pause in Bangkok due to financial constraints. His playing career is at risk amid insufficient support from ANFA during the ongoing suspension.

Nepal's Dashrath Stadium, the country's premier international football venue, is deteriorating with overgrown grass, rusted seats, and neglected goalposts. The neglect coincides with the suspension of ANFA by FIFA and related postponements of international football competitions.

Guglielmo Arena resigned as head coach of Nepal's men's national football team due to the ongoing FIFA suspension of ANFA, which has halted football activities and created uncertainty for Nepali football. Arena cited disappointment over stalled progress and inability to implement his long-term vision.

Members of Nepal's Parliament criticized the government for failing to resolve FIFA's suspension of the All Nepal Football Association caused by interference from the National Sports Council. This criticism was part of broader government accountability concerns raised during a session on multiple public issues.

The FIFA suspension halted international football activities and froze funding critical to football development affecting thousands including 60 national team players, hundreds of coaches, and referees. The Nepali government has yet to present a clear resolution plan amid criticism of underestimating the suspension's severity.

Despite FIFA's suspension of the All Nepal Football Association, football remains active across Nepal with widespread participation in futsal, school, and community tournaments. The Nepal School Football League has been launched, expanding competition opportunities for youth players.

Asian Football Confederation stated Nepal can participate in the U17 Women's Asian Cup Qualifiers and U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers if FIFA lifts the ANFA suspension by the respective tournament deadlines. Nepal already missed the AFC Women’s Champions League 2026/27 due to unrelated league postponements.

FIFA suspended the All Nepal Football Association indefinitely due to third-party interference, specifically government interference through the National Sports Council, violating FIFA statutes. The suspension bars Nepal's national and club football teams from international competitions and freezes funding and development programs until governance issues are resolved.