ANFA faces backlash over ministry-hosted A Division League meeting
The meeting, scheduled for Thursday afternoon at 1 PM, will be attended by Youth and Sports Minister Bablu Gupta along with ANFA officials and representatives of all 14 A Division clubs, according to ANFA’s official letter.
KATHMANDU: The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has drawn sharp criticism after it called for a meeting to discuss the future structure of the Martyrs Memorial A Division League at the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Singha Durbar instead of its own headquarters.
The meeting, scheduled for Thursday afternoon at 1 PM, will be attended by Youth and Sports Minister Bablu Gupta along with ANFA officials and representatives of all 14 A Division clubs, according to ANFA’s official letter.
The decision, however, has sparked a fresh wave of controversy, with many questioning ANFA’s procedural legitimacy and decision-making independence.
Former ANFA President and Himalayan Sherpa Club Chair Karma Tsering Sherpa expressed strong opposition, calling the move a “wrong precedent.” In a social media post, he wrote, “Who is trying to set this wrong tradition? On what law, regulation, or directive can the ministry organize a league meeting? Should we move ANFA’s office to the ministry now? Has ANFA become so incapable that even league meetings must be held there?”
Sherpa labeled the step as “cheap populism,” stressing that upholding rules and procedures should be the real goal of the GenZ reform movement. His remarks have intensified debate over ANFA’s autonomy and credibility.
Last month, ANFA announced that the upcoming A Division League would not be conducted under the home-and-away format due to time constraints.
Though it had planned to begin the league on Poush 6, clubs had requested more preparation time. ANFA has hinted that it might instead organize a National League featuring the top six teams from the previous A Division season and four clubs from the provincial Presidents League — a total of 10 teams.
Repeated delays have marred ANFA’s efforts to resume domestic league football.
The last A Division League concluded in Jestha 2080, with Church Boys United crowned champions.
Despite ANFA’s claim of preparing for the next edition after two and a half years, uncertainty remains over both its format and start date.
As debate grows over the ministry’s involvement, questions about ANFA’s autonomy deepen — while players, clubs, and fans continue to express frustration over the prolonged footballing stalemate.
