Former ANFA President Ganesh Thapa on FIFA Suspension

Kathmandu. While the FIFA World Cup-2026 is grandly underway in Mexico, Canada, and the United States, organized by the International Football Federation (FIFA), FIFA has suspended the Football Association of Nepal (ANFA).

Nepalis, who were enthusiastically enjoying the clash of football giants, were disappointed by the news of ANFA's suspension. With FIFA's suspension, Nepal will no longer be able to participate in international football. In the understanding of some, the long-standing mismanagement, chaos within ANFA, and the incompetence of ANFA officials are the main reasons for the suspension.

Whose fault is it for ANFA's suspension? What will be the future of Nepali football after the suspension? Focused on this very topic, in Rato Pati's 'Warpar', an edited excerpt of a conversation with former President of the Football Association of Nepal (ANFA), Ganesh Thapa (detailed video can be watched and listened to):

Finally, ANFA has been suspended by FIFA. This is a huge blow in the history of Nepali football. But some people in the football market and social media are discussing that you are secretly happy about this suspension. Is that so?

There is nothing to be happy about in this unfortunate event. No true football lover can be happy about this. This is a great calamity for Nepali football.

They say someone is definitely happy with the suspension?

The current ANFA leadership seems happy with this ban. To cover up their incompetence and stay in power, they have held the country's football hostage.

People discuss that you also had an indirect role in creating the environment for this suspension. Because you were the main person who helped current president Pankaj Bikram Nembaing win, right?

There is truth in your question. Although the last 10 years were difficult for me, my passion for football never faded. After I left the leadership, I expected the foundation laid yesterday to be further strengthened, but football went in the wrong direction. Thinking that it might be comparatively better than the old leadership, I helped Pankaj Nembaing win due to past associations. Therefore, those who see me as guilty in this now have the full moral right to say so.

Do you personally regret helping Pankaj Nembaing win now?

Certainly, I deeply regret it. I never thought he would be such a short-sighted and weak person. I admit that I made a big mistake in judging people.

Do you publicly apologize to the Nepali football fans and players for this mistake?

I have no hesitation in apologizing for this. I apologize to the football fans and players. However, apologizing now will not immediately fix the situation that has already been ruined. But I have a great deal of remorse about this.

Officials of the current executive committee say that even though Ganesh Thapa helped them win the election, he later did not allow them to work independently. They say sometimes he incited the players, sometimes the committee members?
 
This accusation is completely baseless. It is just a cheap excuse to cover up their incompetence. Failed leadership naturally blames others. They could not do anything for the development of football throughout their tenure.

What is the main reason for this suspension? ANFA officials claim that the National Sports Council (NSC) interfered politically, and FIFA does not accept such interference. What is the reality?

I have been a staunch opponent of government or political interference since yesterday. But in the current context, the NSC has not interfered. Currently, a misleading campaign is being spread among sports enthusiasts that the NSC has interfered politically. The NSC has only asked to implement the decision made by ANFA's general assembly. Here, the situation has been complicated due to the personal interests of the ANFA leadership.

I urge the honorable Sports Minister to immediately form an impartial and high-level inquiry committee to get to the root of this crisis and identify the culprits. And, punish the guilty.

Won't the process of forming a committee only allow the guilty to escape and prolong the process?

That should not happen. We need an impartial and powerful inquiry committee. I was prevented from participating in the general assembly despite a court order. They disrespected the court. They arbitrarily dissolved district football associations and violated the bylaws. The general assembly had decided to complete the election process of the districts before the central election to be held in 2083 BS, which the current executive committee and leadership did not implement.

Can the executive committee or officials overturn a decision made by the general assembly?

The general assembly is the supreme body of the football association. The responsibility of implementing its decisions lies with the president and the general secretary. Since the past, elections of districts used to be held first, and then the central election. Trying to hold the central election directly without holding the district elections is against the bylaws.
 
What could be the hidden interest behind trying to hold the central election directly without holding the district elections, meaning trying for early elections?

I think they have done this to extend their tenure by making an unholy alliance when the political environment was favorable. According to the bylaws, if the district elections were held, individuals who had completed two terms would not be eligible to contest, and the presidents in 23-24 districts would change. This scheme has been devised because new leadership might lead to a loss of their control. This entire maneuver is the result of a tendency to personally seize power and position. As a result, the entire Nepali football has fallen victim to suspension today.

There is also an argument that if the NSC had been a little more flexible, FIFA's strict decision would not have come, right?

The state has shown great flexibility to save Nepali football. Asking to hold the central election only after holding the district elections according to its bylaws is not an unreasonable demand. However, the ANFA leadership, instead, presented false evidence to FIFA, claiming that the state interfered.

During your tenure, you were personally suspended, but the association survived. Now, due to the weakness of Pankaj Nembaing or the general secretary, couldn't FIFA have saved the association by suspending only them?

Yesterday, our main objective was to save the institution and the future of the players. But the current officials do not seem concerned about saving the institution. Even when the NSC gave them a month and a half to lift the ban, the current leadership did not call an executive committee meeting, nor did they publish any concrete schedule for elections. They misused the time.

There are also rumors that there was some hidden game behind the incident where the ANFA president and general secretary, who were going to watch the World Cup, were stopped at the airport?

Yes, that was a pre-planned drama. They knew their names were on the immigration blacklist due to legal proceedings and investigations by the authority. They deliberately went to the airport and staged a drama so that they would have a basis to complain to FIFA that the government did not allow them to work and travel freely.

During your tenure, there must have been pressure from the state and FIFA as well. How did you manage it?

There was plenty of pressure during our tenure as well. But because I did not want the players' future to be ruined for personal reasons, I stepped down from my post for about nine months and handed over the responsibility of acting president to Lalit Krishna Shrestha. Pankaj Nembaing and others were in the executive committee at that time. We did not allow the institution and the future of the players to be harmed. The current leadership has forgotten that history.

You accused the current ANFA officials of being happy with this suspension. What a paradox this is?

They are truly happy. Disobeying the country's laws, disregarding court orders, and making their homeland bow down by using FIFA as a shield can be called against national interest. Pankaj ji has greatly tarnished the country's prestige.
 
What is the step the government should take in the current situation?

First of all, the state must form an impartial inquiry committee. It will be very difficult for the government to find a solution now, as the state has been forced to bow down and accept FIFA's conditions.

What are the effects on football after the suspension?

According to FIFA's conditions, the election must start from where it began. If that happens, it will open the way for them to be elected unopposed, as some had withdrawn their candidacies under pressure earlier. Players, referees, and coaches will bear the direct brunt of this. All annual grants, project budgets, and development programs from FIFA will be stopped.

Has a situation arisen where players will have trouble even with their basic livelihood?

Yes, players will no longer receive regular salaries and allowances. However, some officials who are drawing hefty salaries and benefits from FIFA's budget are saying that after the ban is lifted, three years' salary will come in a lump sum. Such irresponsible thinking exists in the leadership. Therefore, I urge the government and stakeholders to conduct a strict legal investigation and take action against those involved in this game.

What needs to be done now to lift the suspension, and how long might it take?

If it is to be lifted immediately, the state must abandon all its rules and accept FIFA's conditions. Otherwise, the government must communicate directly with high officials of FIFA and AFC and explain the real situation in Nepal and the irregularities and law violations that have occurred here, because they only receive one-sided and false reporting.

If the government trusts you and assigns you the responsibility of finding a solution to this complex problem, within how much time can you get this suspension lifted?

I want to clarify- I will no longer work in any government committee or hold any position in ANFA. If the state trusts me and asks for facilitation or initiative, I am ready to provide diplomatic support from outside by using my past experience and international relations to explain Nepal's real problems to the leadership of FIFA and AFC and get the suspension lifted.

What do you see as the role of President Pankaj Nembaing and the current officials in this time of crisis?

They have been evading whenever the government has called for talks to resolve the problem. Their focus has only been on how to get the institution suspended. In our time, when a crisis arose, we averted the ban by seeking dialogue and consensus. But now, a tendency not to even engage in dialogue is observed.

Let's turn to the ongoing World Cup football. You are a very old and staunch supporter of Argentina. Will Argentina win the World Cup this time?

I am attracted to Argentina because I am a fan of the play of Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi. I am a big fan of Messi. But looking at the current team's performance, it seems a bit difficult. If Argentina cannot win, I will be happy if Portugal wins, appreciating Cristiano Ronaldo's hard work.

Do you watch all the World Cup matches regularly?

The World Cup has become exciting with the participation of 48 nations. I try to watch all the matches live as much as possible. Since the matches are held at midnight or early in the morning, it is a bit difficult to watch all of them regularly.

Do you have any suggestions for the Sports Minister?

I would like to humbly request the honorable Sports Minister again- without succumbing to any political or other pressure, immediately form a powerful, impartial, and high-level inquiry committee. Collect all facts and evidence and bring the culprits who brought Nepali football to this state under the purview of legal action.

Video/Photo: Ayush Dhami/Rato Pati