Nepali Footballers Protest Against ANFA Over Delayed League and Unpaid Dues

Nepali football players have once again raised their voices against the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), accusing the governing body of poor management and failure to address long-standing issues affecting players and domestic competitions.

On Sunday, members of the Nepal Football Players Association (NFPA) padlocked the main administrative building of ANFA at the ANFA Complex in Satdobato, Lalitpur. The protest was organised to pressure ANFA to respond to several demands from the country’s footballers.

Players Demand League Schedule and Financial Transparency

The NFPA submitted a three-point demand during the protest.

First, the players demanded that ANFA immediately announce the schedule for the Martyr’s Memorial A Division League. According to them, announcing the timeline would assure players that the country’s top-tier football competition will be organised on time.

Second, the association asked ANFA to make public the details of the Players’ Perpetual Fund. The players particularly questioned the management of around Rs6.5 million collected during a four-nation friendly tournament hosted by Nepal last year. The tournament featured teams from Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon and Myanmar.

Third, the players demanded that ANFA clear long-pending prize money promised since 2017 and ensure that footballers receive their salaries regularly.

Heated Discussion With Coaches

During the protest, members of the Nepal Football Coaches Association (NFCA) were also present at the complex. Videos circulating on social media showed heated discussions between players and coaches.

Some coaches attempted to mediate and requested the players not to padlock the building. However, the videos led many fans to believe that the coaches were supporting ANFA instead of the players.

Later, the NFCA released a statement clarifying that they support the players’ concerns and that the circulating videos had created a misleading impression.

Long Gap in Domestic Football

The protest highlights a deeper crisis in Nepali football. The Martyr’s Memorial A Division League, the country’s top domestic competition, has not been organised for more than 1,000 days. The lower divisions-B Division and C Division leagues have also been irregular.

Many observers believe that the lack of regular domestic competitions has contributed to the poor performance of the Nepali men’s national team in international tournaments.

In contrast, women’s football in Nepal has been relatively more active. The women’s league has been organised regularly, helping discover new talents. The national women’s team has also gained increasing attention from fans despite not yet winning a major international title.

Concerns Over Management of Women’s Football

Even though women’s football has gained popularity, concerns about management remain.

There have been reports that women players were not provided with adequate facilities during international tournaments. Issues such as limited recovery support, insufficient drinking water and poor accommodation were raised in the past.

Former women’s national team head coach Patrick de Wilde had also expressed dissatisfaction with the facilities provided to the players. He resigned shortly after taking charge. Similarly, men’s national team coach Matt Ross also stepped down before completing his one-year contract last year.

ANFA also faced criticism recently when star striker Sabitra Bhandari, popularly known as “Samba,” sought public support for funding her surgery. Many fans questioned why the football association did not provide adequate financial assistance.

ANFA Responds to Protest

ANFA issued a statement on Monday condemning the padlocking of its office building. According to the association, the protest was carried out on a public holiday without prior communication.

ANFA said that it is committed to organising the A Division League within a month after the completion of the ongoing National League. The organisation also stated that a portion of the revenue from the four-nation tournament will be added to the Players’ Perpetual Fund.

Regarding unpaid prize money, ANFA explained that payments promised by the current executive committee have already been cleared. However, dues promised by previous committees will be gradually settled through internal sources.

The association also warned that the protest could disrupt ongoing and upcoming tournaments, including the National League, the Under-18 League and the Women’s League.

Fans Hope for Revival of Nepali Football

The dispute between ANFA and the players has left football fans worried about the future of the sport in Nepal.

In eastern Nepal, a region known for producing many national team players, football remains a popular topic of conversation among fans.

Many supporters remember the golden days of domestic clubs such as Three Star Club, Manang Marsyangdi Club and Machhindra Football Club. For years, these clubs dominated Nepali football and attracted passionate fan support.

Fans now hope that the issues between players and the football governing body will be resolved quickly so that Nepali football can regain its former strength.

With growing public pressure and continued protests from players, the future direction of football administration in Nepal remains a major topic of national sports discussion.