KATHMANDU, March 23: A growing rift within Nepali football has derailed an international friendly between Nepal and Hong Kong, exposing how administrative infighting is spilling onto the pitch.
The match, scheduled for March 26 at Dasharath Stadium, was in its final stages of preparation when the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) abruptly decided to postpone it.
In a press statement, ANFA blamed the National Sports Council (NSC) for failing to grant approval and provide access to the stadium.
The NSC, however, pushed back within hours, saying it had already granted approval in line with the National Sports Development Act, 2020, and had only asked ANFA to deposit Rs 45,000 for the use of floodlights, sound systems, scoreboards, and other infrastructure. The NSC also made public a letter directing ANFA to deposit the amount into a Rastriya Banijya Bank account.
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As the blame game intensified, both sides traded accusations. ANFA CEO Indraman Tuladhar claimed that despite repeated visits, approval was not granted. He further alleged that officials were reluctant to accept payment even when he arrived with a cheque.
Tuladhar also accused NSC officials of intimidation, saying he was threatened with removal by security personnel while seeking approval. Attempts to contact NSC Coordination Division Chief Chandra Rai for comment were unsuccessful.
While the NSC insists that stadium usage fees have always been mandatory, ANFA argues that such charges were never enforced for international matches and were raised this time to obstruct the friendly.
The dispute is also tied to tensions over ANFA’s upcoming election. The NSC had earlier directed ANFA to halt its planned election in Jhapa and sought a written response within three days, with Sunday marking the deadline.
In its reply, ANFA said the election is in line with its statute, underscored its autonomy, and warned of possible sanctions from FIFA and AFC if the process is halted. It also urged the NSC to support the smooth conduct of the election.
The standoff has now spilt beyond the administration, ultimately affecting an international fixture linked to Nepal’s sporting reputation. ANFA said it has informed the Hong Kong Football Association about the cancellation, citing a lack of cooperation from government authorities.
“We have been visiting the NSC for hours seeking approval. Even this morning, we were there, but their intent became clear—they were not willing to proceed,” Tuladhar said.
ANFA spokesperson Suresh Shah added that the council had never previously demanded such payments for international matches, calling the situation unprecedented.
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