FIFA has suspended Nepal’s football governing body, the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), over what it described as serious breaches of its statutes, effectively preventing the country from taking part in international football competitions.
The decision, announced on Wednesday, takes immediate effect and stems from a dispute involving ANFA and Nepal’s National Sports Council, the government agency responsible for sports administration.
FIFA cited external interference in the management of the country’s football affairs as the basis for the sanction.
In a letter addressed to ANFA, FIFA Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom stated that the world football body had decided “to suspend ANFA with immediate effect due to flagrant violations of the FIFA Statutes.”
According to FIFA, the conflict centres on disagreements over the governance of football in Nepal.
The organisation maintains that national football associations must function independently and free from government influence.
The controversy intensified after the National Sports Council suspended ANFA for three months in March 2026 while preparations were underway for an election process that had been approved by both FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation.
Although that suspension was lifted in May, the electoral congress required to complete the process has faced repeated delays.
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The council has also issued a number of directives to ANFA, including demands to amend its statutes in line with Nepal’s sports development legislation.
Nepal currently occupies 175th position in FIFA’s men’s world rankings, while its women’s team is ranked 88th globally.
Reacting to the development, ANFA spokesman Suresh Shah said, “The suspension is an issue of grave concern; we are consulting with all stakeholders to lift the suspension, keeping Nepal’s football in priority.”
The suspension prevents Nepal from participating in international football events and also cuts off access to FIFA-funded development initiatives, training programmes and educational courses.
“It impacts our players, barring them from opportunities and dampens dreams of aspiring players,” Shah added.
FIFA indicated that the suspension could be removed if the National Sports Council withdraws the decisions it made in March and allows ANFA to complete its electoral process without interference.
Meanwhile, Ram Charitra Mehta, a member secretary of the National Sports Council, said, “The government never wanted this… we are looking for alternative ways to address this crisis.”