Kathmandu, November 3
Education and Sports Minister Sasmit Pokharel is set to travel to Thailand to attend the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Awards. The National Sports Council (NSC) said he is going at the invitation of the AFC.
The AFC Awards will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 19. Alongside the ceremony, a meeting has been scheduled with the AFC and FIFA to discuss lifting the suspension of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA). Senior officials from both bodies will take part, along with a few representatives from Nepal, including the minister.
“The invitation came from the AFC. Once the talks were confirmed, the minister decided to attend in person. A meeting has been arranged with senior AFC and FIFA representatives there. We expect these to be decisive talks for lifting the ANFA suspension,” an NSC source said.
FIFA suspended ANFA indefinitely on June 24, citing third-party interference. The government and FIFA had earlier held a virtual meeting on the matter.
The NSC source claimed that both FIFA and AFC are positive, and that the talks will lead to a way out.
