ANFA States No Approval Received from RAKHEP for Nepal-Hong Kong Match
Despite ANFA officials being present at the RAKHEP office from the morning until afternoon of Chaitra 5, no written approval was granted, according to ANFA.
Chaitra 9, Kathmandu – The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) has clarified that it has not received any official approval from the National Sports Council (RAKHEP) for the international friendly football match scheduled between Nepal and Hong Kong on Chaitra 12.
In a statement released Monday morning, ANFA asserted that it failed to secure timely approval for the maintenance of Dashrath Rangasala Stadium and other necessary clearances.
Earlier, on Sunday afternoon, ANFA had announced that the match between Nepal and Hong Kong was canceled due to RAKHEP not making the Dashrath Rangasala available.
Furthermore, Nepal had informed the Hong Kong Football Association through a letter that the game was canceled due to political tensions in Nepal. However, on Sunday evening, RAKHEP refuted ANFA’s claims, stating that approval for the use of Dashrath Rangasala had been granted on time and accused ANFA of spreading misinformation. The following day, ANFA issued another statement countering RAKHEP’s letter.
According to ANFA, a request for the necessary approvals and use of Dashrath Rangasala was sent to RAKHEP on Magh 10, which was officially registered on Magh 11. Yet, no written permission was received for a prolonged period.
Despite repeatedly seeking clarification from relevant RAKHEP officials, ANFA claims they received no clear response. Even on Chaitra 5, with ANFA staff present at the RAKHEP office from morning till afternoon, written approval was not provided.
ANFA stated that it has been solely bearing all financial and technical responsibilities related to the maintenance of Dashrath Rangasala, including floodlight fuel, staffing, and other arrangements, making the lack of timely approval a regrettable incident.
Following ANFA’s announcement to postpone the match, it expressed surprise over RAKHEP’s subsequent press release claiming to have granted approval. ANFA also questioned RAKHEP’s intentions, noting that the letter dated Chaitra 5 was only made public on Chaitra 8.
ANFA reiterated that it has yet to receive any official or written approval and apologized to football fans nationwide for the circumstances caused by administrative delays.
The conflict between RAKHEP, the executive body for sports, and ANFA, Nepal’s largest sports organization, has intensified after RAKHEP refused to grant approval for ANFA’s early elections scheduled on Chaitra 13 in Jhapa.
The standoff between the two organizations, which began on Sunday, continued into Monday. While opposing teams compete to score goals on the football field, a contrasting confrontation is unfolding outside between RAKHEP and ANFA.
