The government has barred 24 individuals associated with the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), including top officials, executive committee members and the chief executive officer, from travelling abroad amid an escalating dispute with the National Sports Council (NSC).

Acting on the NSC’s recommendation, the Department of Immigration (DoI) placed ANFA president Pankaj Bikram Nembang, Senior Vice-President Bir Bahadur Khadka, six other officials and 15 executive committee members on a travel ban list. They have been included in the immigration blacklist.

General secretary Kiran Rai, spokesperson Suresh Shah and chief executive officer Indraman Tuladhar have also been blacklisted. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, ANFA vice-presidents Deepak Khatiwada, Birat Jung Shahi, Dawa Lama and Dirga Bahadur (Kumar) KC are among those barred from leaving the country.

Executive committee members Ramesh Byanjankar, Mahendra Chhetri, Rabindra Chand, Anil Malla, Manish Joshi, Purshottam Thapa, Bhojraj Shahi, Bikash Narayan Shrestha, Tikaram Lama, Bharat Bahadur Budha Thapa, Maniraj Bista, Pema Dolma Lama, Sarila Shrestha Maleku and Rupesh Adhikari have also been placed on the blacklist.

Officials at the Home Ministry said the individuals were listed on Thursday and Friday. The travel restriction comes as tensions between the NSC and ANFA have intensified over allegations that the football body defied directives and tried to press ahead with its electoral process without approval.

The NSC had suspended ANFA for three months on March 25, citing procedural and governance concerns. Following the suspension, the NSC recommended a travel ban, arguing that ANFA officials could try to travel abroad independently despite the ongoing restrictions.

The suspension forced ANFA to halt its planned election scheduled for March 27 in Jhapa, further deepening the institutional deadlock.

The dispute has drawn the attention of global football governing bodies, raising concerns about possible sanctions against Nepal. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have repeatedly warned that the NSC’s decision amounts to third-party interference, which violates statutes governing member associations.

In a fresh communication, FIFA and AFC have asked the NSC to revoke the suspension by May 4, warning that failure to do so could lead to further complications, including the risk of Nepal facing international suspension.

Earlier, the two bodies had issued a seven-day deadline on April 4, which went unheeded. They reiterated their position during an online meeting with NSC and ANFA officials on April 13, stressing that ANFA must be allowed to function autonomously.

In their latest letter, signed by FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer Elkhan Mammadov and AFC Deputy General Secretary Vahid Kardany, the international bodies said the NSC’s decision significantly affects ANFA’s independence and activities.

They stated that the suspension, along with directives to halt elections and amend statutes, constitutes undue third-party interference. According to FIFA statutes, such interference can trigger disciplinary action, including suspension of the member association.

FIFA is scheduled to hold its 76th Congress in Vancouver, Canada, on April 30, where suspension or expulsion of member associations is listed as an agenda item. Although Nepal is not currently expected to be discussed, officials say the risk remains if the situation is not resolved.

FIFA statutes also allow its council to suspend a member association with immediate effect, without waiting for the Congress, if serious violations occur.

FIFA and AFC have said that meaningful dialogue with Nepali authorities can take place only after the NSC withdraws its decision. They have urged all stakeholders to resolve the dispute through consultation once ANFA’s autonomy is restored.

ANFA officials, including general secretary Rai, submitted the latest FIFA and AFC letter to the NSC on Thursday, seeking a resolution before the deadline.

With the standoff persisting, Nepali football faces increasing uncertainty, as both domestic administrative actions and international pressure continue to mount.