Legal Case Filed Against Four Including ANFA President and General Secretary
A case has been filed at the District Court of Lalitpur against Pankajvikram Nembang, President of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), General Secretary Kiran Rai, and two others. On October 9, Kathmandu. The District Government Attorney’s Office in Lalitpur registered the case concerning alleged financial irregularities within ANFA and matters related to the Nepal-Bahrain international football match, naming them as defendants. The accused include President Nembang, General Secretary Rai, Treasurer Ravindra Joshi, and Accounts Officer Sanjiv Pandey.
The Government Attorney’s Office has brought charges under Section 33 (g) of the Sports Development Act, 2077, and Section 249, Subsection 3 (a) of the Muluki Criminal Code, 2074. Investigations conducted by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police concluded there were multiple irregularities under ANFA’s leadership. Based on these findings, the Government Attorney’s Office proceeded with the case. According to the CIB report, irregularities ranged from the Bahrain match to the procurement of sports materials, and it was concluded that ANFA leadership played a role in creating conditions that prevented the Nepal-Bahrain FIFA World Cup qualifier match scheduled for 2024 from being held in Nepal.
The report noted that the Dashrath Rangasala stadium was rendered unfit for international matches and that before the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) ordered the match to be played at a neutral venue, General Secretary Rai had already agreed to hold the game in Bahrain. Additionally, the report highlights that US $20,000 in ticket sales revenue from the Bahrain Football Association did not reach ANFA’s institutional account, while expenses exceeding NPR 3.85 million for Bahrain’s players and officials’ airfare were deposited into ANFA’s account.
The CIB also found irregularities in the procurement of Kelme brand sports materials. The report from the subcommittee of the Public Accounts Committee pointed out that tendering procedures were not followed for purchases exceeding NPR 1 million, and the three companies involved shared the same ownership. Over the past three and a half years, ANFA bought sports materials worth approximately NPR 140 to 150 million, with irregularities found in distribution as well. Furthermore, the CIB concluded there was a lack of transparency in distributing and selling 330 online FIFA World Cup tickets and detected irregularities in the procurement and sponsorship funds related to Sherpa Outdoors.
Among the four accused, Treasurer Joshi and Accounts Officer Pandey are currently under CIB custody. The Government Attorney’s Office has requested an extension from the court to arrest President Nembang and General Secretary Rai. The CIB determined that ANFA officials engaged in unauthorized agreements without obtaining permissions from the Ministry or the National Sports Council, took teams abroad without proper approvals, and were involved in procurement irregularities.