Nepali football has recently been engulfed in corruption allegations, and the country’s teams have been barred from competing in international tournaments. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) and prosecutors have accused suspended All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) President Pankaj Bikram Nembang, General Secretary Kiran Rai, Treasurer Rabindra Joshi and Accounts Officer Sanjiv Pandey of financial mismanagement and match-fixing, seeking to recover Rs 9.3 million. Joshi and Pandey have been released from custody on bail, while Nembang and Rai remain at large. While the courts must determine their culpability, ANFA owes players and fans an explanation of the allegations concerning Nepal’s qualifier against Bahrain, ticket sales, equipment purchases, World Cup tickets and sponsorship money. The suspension imposed by FIFA on June 24 has already barred Nepal’s national teams and clubs from participating in international competitions, depriving them of opportunities and development benefits. The suspension came after the National Sports Council intervened in ANFA’s administration and elections. Players have lost opportunities because of decisions over which they had no control. Former ANFA President Ganesh Thapa’s 10-year FIFA suspension for bribery and corruption should have prompted improvements in the association’s financial management and accountability. Another leader is now facing charges of wrongdoing. Replacing presidents accomplishes little if the same weak financial controls and resistance to scrutiny persist. The principle of independence for sports associations must never exempt ANFA from Nepal’s laws.
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It is understandable that governments have no business appointing national teams, dictating tactics or rigging elections to install their supporters. However, police and prosecutors have an obligation to investigate suspected fraud. Treating every investigation as an attack on football’s independence has allowed authorities to evade accountability for their actions. FIFA deserves criticism for prioritising the independence of sports associations over accountability. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other international federations must also clarify how their rules protect athletes when officials exploit autonomy to escape scrutiny. Associations cannot expect public funding, grounds and facilities while refusing legitimate scrutiny of their operations. Independence should protect sporting decisions, not officials accused of plundering the sport. The government, too, must abide by the rules it expects sports officials to follow. Selective prosecutions, political appointments and pressure on elected organisations are all forms of unethical conduct. Courts must review the evidence, defendants must receive fair hearings, and the council must explain the legal basis for its decisions. Football in Nepal once attracted large crowds across the country. Years of corruption and poor governance have eroded that support. To restore the sport’s strength, sponsors must have confidence that their money will be spent responsibly, while clubs and players need regular matches and competitive leagues. ANFA cannot deliver these essentials while its leaders compete for power and pay less attention to football development. Persistent irregularities have driven talented footballers out of Nepal because they cannot earn a sustainable living from the sport. Some are now working in conventional jobs overseas while competing in community-level tournaments. Their departure deprives clubs of experienced players and narrows the pool of talent available to the national team. Describing this exodus as a matter of personal aspiration absolves administrators of their responsibility. Players struggle to pay their rent and support their families financially.
As corruption allegations deepen, ANFA must publish its financial statements, commission independent audits and disclose its procurement activities, sponsorship deals and ticket revenues. It must also ensure a regular competitive schedule and give athletes a voice in decisions that affect their careers. FIFA and the council should agree on the scope of government oversight and the procedures required to lift the suspension. Officials found guilty must be punished, and misappropriated funds must be recovered. Players must not be sidelined while administrators engage in power struggles or prolonged court battles. Officials must maintain discipline, while international federations must assess autonomy in light of its contribution to the development of the sport and the welfare of players. If independence shields officials from the consequences of corruption, undermines football standards and drives talented players abroad, autonomy becomes a refuge for lawlessness. Nepal’s authorities must therefore hold those responsible accountable, enforce the law and help Nepali football reclaim its lost glory.