FIFA has officially suspended the membership of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), effectively barring the country from international football activities.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the global football governing body issued the decision following concerns regarding the autonomy of the national association.
As a result of this suspension, the Nepal national team and all domestic clubs are prohibited from participating in any international tournaments until further notice.
The decision stems from the National Sports Council's (NSC) interference in ANFA's operations, specifically regarding unresolved disputes over the association's election process and external intervention in its governance. FIFA has set two primary conditions for lifting the ban: the full and unconditional reversal of the NSC's decision to suspend the ANFA Executive Committee for three months, and the guarantee that the association can complete its ongoing election process in accordance with its own statutes.
FIFA, headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, maintains strict regulations regarding the independence of its member associations. The organization frequently intervenes when national governments or external bodies attempt to exert control over football federations, ensuring that sports governance remains free from political influence to protect the integrity of the game globally.
