The Asian Football Confederation Disciplinary and Ethics Committee meetings held in Malaysia has slapped a $35,000—just under Rs4 million—fine on the All Nepal Football Association for violating the AFC Cup Club Licensing Regulations.

The release issued by the AFC notes that $25,000 of the total fine has been suspended for a probationary period of two years. However, another violation of similar nature during the probationary period will automatically revoke the suspension and the sanction shall be applied and added to the one pronounced for the new infringement.

Based on the decision made by the AFC, Nepal’s national football governing body had incorrectly granted licences to clubs to participate in the AFC Cup 2019.

According to the article 4C(a) of AFC Cup Club Licensing Regulations, “Only clubs which fulfil the criteria set out in these Club Licensing Regulations at the deadlines may be granted a license to enter the AFC Club Competition and/or National Football league. Clubs which fail to get a license will not be allowed to participate in the National Football League unless an exception is granted by AFC. A license shall be mandatory to participate in AFC Club Competitions.”

The Regulation has identified Club Licensing Criteria in terms of sporting requirement, infrastructures, personnel and administration aspects, legalities and finances that are required to be mandatorily met by the clubs.

AFC had previously directed its member nations to implement the club licensing mechanism within 2019. For the clubs to receive a licence, they require to have a first-team head coach with an AFC ‘A’ coaching certificate, written contract with all players in top team, medical check-up and treatment for all registered players, a home playing field, approved youth development programme, two youth teams of the age group Under-18 and Under-15 with an AFC ‘C’ licensed coach.

Likewise, the clubs also must have their own training facilities throughout the year, a full-time CEO, finance, security and media officers, legal identification of the club through an appropriate authority, annual budget, audited financial statements with no liabilities towards employees and social and tax authorities among others.

ANFA had issued licenses to nine clubs: Manang Marsyangdi Club, Three Star, Nepal Police Club, Tribhuvan Army Club, Armed Police Force Club, Chyasal Youth Club, Sankata Club, Himalayan Sherpa and Machhindra Football Club. None of the football clubs meets the requirements.

The AFC had inquired about Nepali clubs that had received the licenses. Their investigations met with shortcomings in terms of documentation and discovered the failure of the clubs in meeting the basic requirements.

Regarding the penalty, ANFA General Secretary Indra Man Tuladhar said, “AFC has imposed the fine in regards to the failure of Nepali clubs in meeting the criteria of the youth development programme and having an Under-15 team in place”. Tuladhar, however, was confident of the clubs’ capacity in meeting these requirements.

ANFA must settle the unsuspended portion of the fine, $10,000, by November 24.

In a separate context, the AFC has suspended Nepal Futsal head coach Bishnu Gurung for one match with a fine of $1,000 for failing to conduct himself in a responsible manner in the clash against Tajikistan under the AFC Futsal Championship Qualifiers held on October 23.