FIFA suspends All Nepal Football Association over third-party interference

FIFA has suspended the All Nepal Football Association with immediate effect over third-party interference, according to reporting published on June 25, 2026.

The move bars Nepal’s national teams and clubs from FIFA-sanctioned competitions while the suspension remains in place. It also cuts ANFA off from FIFA development programmes, courses and training opportunities.

Why FIFA acted

AFP-sourced reporting says the suspension stems from a governance dispute involving ANFA and Nepal’s National Sports Council. FIFA described the issue in one report as undue interference by a third party and in another as flagrant violations of the FIFA Statutes.

The reported trigger is a fight over how Nepali football is being governed, including the federation’s electoral process.

What happened before

The dispute has been building for months. According to AFP-sourced reporting, Nepal’s sports council suspended ANFA for three months in March 2026. That suspension was lifted in May.

FIFA’s latest action escalates the conflict sharply. Reporting says the governing body would lift the ban if the council revokes its March decisions and allows ANFA to complete its electoral process.

Who is affected

The suspension affects Nepal’s men’s and women’s national teams, as well as clubs competing in FIFA-sanctioned events. It also puts development support and training access at risk.

ANFA spokesman Suresh Shah said the suspension was a grave concern and said the federation is consulting stakeholders on how to get it lifted. Ram Charitra Mehta, a member secretary of the National Sports Council, said the government did not want the crisis and was looking for alternatives.

What comes next

The immediate next step is whether ANFA or the National Sports Council formally responds, negotiates, or challenges the decision. The other key question is whether FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation spell out the conditions for reinstatement.

For now, Nepal’s football teams and clubs remain barred from FIFA competition until the suspension is removed.