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Kathmandu Friday July 20, 2001 Shrawan 05, 2058.
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ANFA feud fuels fear among football fans
By Somesh Verma
KATHMANDU, July 19 - Nepali football fans were
captured by a rare moment of delight following the outstanding game the national team had
put in during their qualifying tournament in Kazakhstan. Although Nepal did not progress
through to the second leg, they performed to their maximum potential, especially against
Macau, whom they beat twice, including a crushing 6-1 win.
The team’s honeymoon was short-lived, so
did the fanfare of innumerous fans. Thanks to the longstanding feud between two football
governing bodies—ANFA. And when the football’s world governing body (FIFA)
lashed out on the Lebanon Football Association (LFA) last month, the fear—Nepal might
have to face a similar fate—among the Nepali football followers simply seems to grow.
The general-secretary of AFC, Dato’ Peter
Velappan, explaining the reason for the LFA suspension, had cited the government
interference as the main cause behind such an action. "Both FIFA and AFC object to
government interference in matters concerning our members," he was quoted as saying
in the AFC official website.
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