Geeta requests for FIFA/AFC justification

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, April 5: The government supported football body chief today criticized Asian Football Council (AFC)and world football governing body FIFA for supporting his rival soccer body which has "no legal validity."

In a written letter to AFC General Secretary Peter Velappan and FIFA General Secretary, the government supported ANFA President Geeta Rana has also asked for the justification for their involvement in supporting the Ganesh Thapa headed ANFA

In her descriptive letter, Rana has charged that the formation of Thapa’s ANFA was possible after violating ANFA statute. The letter, signed by 18 Rana-led ANFA members, states that Thapa’s ANFA has failed to include 15 members from previous Committee as per the article 7.3 (b)of ANFA statute. Out of 31, there are 23 people as members in Thapa led association’s General Council. These members as against the above mentioned article do not belong to previous committee.

Therefore, Thapa’s ANFA, which has been enjoying the support of FIFA/AFC has violated the ANFA statute. Since is failed to meet the ANFA norms, Thapa led association has no legal validity, Rana said in the letter.

Thapa, who was dismissed by Nepalese government and National Sports Council for overlooking its directives, has been supported by AFC/FIFA after he was elected president in a hastily organised elections in October last year.

AFC member Manilal Fernanado observed the elections organised by Thapa who earlier said that no other associations or even NSC or persons could organise elections for ANFA. Thapa’s counterpart Rana and other detractors blame him for organising the elections despite Supreme Courts stay-order to hold such elections after he came under the fire for financial and other irregularities.

Moreover, in the letter, ANFA Ad-hoc Committee President Rana charged Ganesh Thapa for being undemocratic as he overlooked the demand of the majority of members for the amendment in the ANFA statute and the postponement of elections which was done in a haste by Thapa in October last year.

The AFC member Fernanado was aware of the demand of the majority of the ANFA members as he had been given all the relevant documents and minutes on October 16, 2000, Rana said in the letter.

Because of such situation, Rana has requested AFC General Secretary Velappan to visit Nepal to get the first hand knowledge of the prevailing situation.

In an another lengthy letter written to FIFA General Secretary, Rana, as the acting President of ANFA, as she is addressed by FIFA, demanded justification for AFC support to Thapa’s ANFA, which has " violated the Supreme Courts stay-order, overlooked NSC’s directives." AFC’s decision to send observer to supervise elections held under such circumstances was not fair, she said. She has questioned the legality of Thapa as ANFA chief because he did not pay heed to "majority of members’ demand to postponement of elections." After he rejected their demands, most of these members took side to Rana.

She said NSC governs all sports association of Nepal. As a rule all Nepalese sports association must follow NSC directives. But Thapa failed to do so and also failed to update his association’s financial affairs. She said that the ANFA complex has been built on NSC’s land and therefore, ANFA complex automatically belongs to NSC. The Nepalese sports governing body is responsible for the development of all sports in Nepal. ANFA also gets financial supports from NSC, she said.