Football Stakeholders Submit MoU To NSC, MoYS

KATHMANDU, Oct 13:National players, coaches, officials and All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) executive members on Sunday submitted a memorandum to the National Sports Council Member-Secretary Yubaraj Lama and Minister for Youth and Sports Purushottam Paudel requesting them not to take stern action against ANFA over the actions of its controversial president Ganesh Thapa.

The team was led by national team skipper Sagar Thapa, national women´s football team captain Chandra Bhandari, national youth team captain Bimal Ghartimagar, U-16 football team coach Balgopal Maharjan and FIFA referee Laba Khatri.

The parliament´s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) is investigating ANFA President Ganesh Thapa on the charge of his involvement in financial irregularities worth Rs 581.7 million.

Thapa was directed to retire from the office until PAC had concluded its investigation against him.

Claiming that the football fraternity has been affected due to the recent developments, they in the memorandum have said that they will not have any objection if ANFA President Thapa is punished after a proper investigation.

“The bottom line is: Action should not be taken against ANFA. We are not defending anybody (Thapa) through this memorandum but we are concerned about the future of the masses whose source of livelihood is football,” said national skipper Sagar.

“If action is taken against ANFA then the possibility of FIFA suspending ANFA will increase and if this happens, football sector will suffer.”

The officials claimed that if PAC directive to bar ANFA President Thapa from office for two months is implemented, then FIFA may suspend ANFA and this will affect the upcoming national league.

Meanwhile, member secretary Lama said that the NSC has not received any directive from the PAC or the CIAA.

“If anyone is found guilty of wrongdoing, they will face the consequences according to the law. NSC will have to comply with the decision,” he said.

Source: MyRepublica