All three tier clubs of Nepali football pyramid submitted a joint application to the All Nepal Football Association on Thursday, a day prior to its board meeting, demanding that the football governing body pay the outstanding amounts to the clubs.

The 26 ‘A’, ‘B’ and ‘C’ Division clubs have formally submitted an application to ANFA general secretary Kiran Rai urging the football governing body to release the outstanding money totaling Rs53.150 million.

According to Karma Tsering Sherpa, the former ANFA president and president of ‘A’ division outfit Himalayan Sherpa Club, the football governing body is yet to pay the top tier clubs their third instalment preparation fee of Rs 750,000. These include 13 ‘A’ division clubs among the 14 for the 2021-22 league season. Only Manang Marshyangdi Club has been paid the third instalment for the 2021-22 season.

None of the 14 ‘A’ division clubs have been paid the second and third instalments of preparation money amounting Rs1.75 million each for the last Martyrs Memorial ‘A’ Division League that concluded on June 10. Church Boys United were crowned the new champions in the double round robin format.

According to the clubs, ANFA is yet to make a payment of Rs 34.25 million to ‘A’ division clubs, Rs12.6 million to ‘B’ Division clubs and Rs6.3 million to ‘C’ division clubs. The 14 ‘B’ Division clubs are yet to receive preparatory fees of Rs 650,000 for 2021-22. The 14 ‘C’ Division clubs are to get Rs 450,000 each for the 2021-22 season.

“We have urged the ANFA general secretary to include the agenda of releasing preparatory fees that we should have already got. He has assured us that the clubs’ demand will be included under the miscellaneous header,” said Sherpa.

“The ANFA leadership had assured us that the amount would be released after 45 days, once we submit the bills and we have already fulfilled all the requirements. However, the preparatory amount has not been released months after that,” he added.

“We are hopeful that the board meeting will make a decision to release the amount, promptly. We are waiting for the decision and if they do not release the preparatory amount, we will take stern action,” said Sherpa.

“The clubs’ concerns will be discussed in the meeting under the miscellaneous header. We have cleared most of the payments of the leagues, including prize money,” said the ANFA general secretary Rai.

“The bills submitted by the clubs need to be verified and approved by both ANFA and the FIFA representatives. ANFA is in the process of bill verification and the amount will be released 45 days after it is approved by both the parties as we are under the control of FIFA for funding. We are not in the position to state the exact date for the release of the amount,” he added.