FIFA has suspended the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) with immediate effect and until further notice, dealing a major blow to football in the country.

FIFA Suspends All Nepal Football Association With Until Further Notice
Representational image.© AFP
FIFA has suspended the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) with immediate effect and until further notice, dealing a major blow to football in the country.

“We hereby inform you that, as a result of the decision taken by the Bureau of the Council on 24 June 2026, ANFA has been suspended until further notice in accordance with Article 16 of the FIFA Statutes,” the statement read.

As a result of the suspension, Nepal’s national teams and clubs will be barred from participating in international competitions sanctioned by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The suspension also cuts off access to FIFA and AFC development programmes, training initiatives, and educational courses for ANFA, its members, and officials.

“Consequently, with effect from 24 June 2026, ANFA has lost all of its membership rights, as defined in Article 13 of the FIFA Statutes, until further notice. ANFA representative and club teams are therefore no longer entitled to take part in international competitions until the suspension is lifted.

This also means that neither ANFA nor any of its members or officials may benefit from any development programmes, courses, or training from FIFA and/or the AFC. Moreover, we would remind you and your affiliates not to enter into any sporting contact with ANFA and/or its teams while ANFA is suspended,” the statement added.

FIFA further stated that the sanction could be revoked before the next FIFA Congress if the circumstances leading to the suspension are resolved.

“Finally, the Bureau of the Council or the FIFA Council may lift this suspension at any time before the next FIFA Congress takes place. Should this occur, we will inform you accordingly,” the statement concluded.

Fare Network, an organisation established to counter inequality and discrimination in football, has called on FIFA to remove a video assistant referee (VAR) official from the World Cup after he flashed an allegedly white supremacist gesture during a match.

The incident happened when Germany faced Curaçao on Sunday. When the pre-game footage of the official broadcast cut to the VAR team, Shaun Evans, one of the officials, was seen making a reversed “okay” sign with his right hand in front of his right leg.

Anti-Defamation League, a global anti-bigotry organisation, designated the gesture as a hate symbol since 2019.

In a statement, Fare Network, a long-time partner of FIFA to monitor racist and discriminatory behaviour, said “the gesture used clearly resembles an upside-down ‘OK’ hand symbol used as a ‘white power’ symbol in global far-right circles”.

“Clearly, this official should have no further role to play in this World Cup,” the statement read.

It remains unclear whether Evans, an Australian making his World Cup debut, was making a political gesture

Afrobeats star Davido has been confirmed as one of the performers for FIFA’s World Cup 2026 Countdown Concert scheduled to be held in Los Angeles, United States, on June 10.

FIFA announced this on Tuesday as part of activities leading up to the commencement of the expanded World Cup, which the United States, Canada and Mexico will jointly host.

According to the global football governing body, Davido will share the stage with Major Lazer, the music project led by American DJ and producer Diplo, during the Los Angeles leg of the concert series.

The event is part of a synchronised live entertainment programme that will connect audiences across the three host nations through music, football and cultural performances ahead of the tournament.