Education and Sports Minister Sasmit Pokharel has said high-level efforts are underway to lift the suspension that FIFA, the world football governing body, imposed on the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA).
Minister Pokharel gave the information while speaking at Monday’s meeting of the House of Representatives.
He said the National Sports Council had directed ANFA to amend its statute and hold tiered elections in line with the National Sports Development Act, 2077 and the National Sports Development Regulations, 2079.
According to Pokharel, ANFA went ahead with its general assembly and election process without following the Council’s directive. After repeated warnings, it was suspended under the executive committee’s decision on March 26.
“FIFA sent a notice of suspension, treating the Council’s directive to ANFA as third-party interference. The period of suspension has not been specified, and the Government of Nepal is making high-level efforts to lift it, so the suspension may be lifted soon. I would also like to inform the House that no international competition has been held since the suspension,” he said.
He also said the government is working to improve the country’s community education, and expressed a commitment to issue an Education Act incorporating stakeholders’ suggestions to resolve problems in school education.
