“Anfa president Ganesh Thapa has temporarily stepped aside while Fifa’s Ethics Committee investigates allegations of financial irregularites, made by two of his own vice-presidents,” the Reuters news agency quoted Fifa as saying on Tuesday. “Thapa has agreed not to participate in any football-related activity at national and international level for a period of 120 days while the Fifa ethics committee completes its review of claims involving alleged misconduct by Anfa officials,” said Fifa in a statement.

Last month, two Anfa vice-presidents, Karma Tsering Sherpa and Bijay Narayan Manandhar, asked Fifa ethics investigator Michael Garcia to look into Thapa and how funds to Nepal from Fifa and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) were used. The request, via an emailed letter, came after Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the parliament ordered an investigation of Thapa, an Asian Football Confederation (AFC) vice president, over what it said was alleged embezzlement of funds. Thapa has repeatedly denied all allegations, saying he has done nothing wrong.

Thapa stepped aside as the Anfa president for two months on October 21 adhering to the PAC directive. Anfa first vice-president Lalit Krishna Shrestha has since assumed the responsibility for two months. Anfa Treasurer Birat Jung Shahi had also stepped aside from the office on October 21. The PAC directed the Ministry of Youth and Sports on September 28 to suspend the Anfa office-bearers for two months over alleged embezzlement of funds. Thapa, along with General Secretary Dhirendra Pradhan, Treasurer Birat Jung Shahi and a superviser who oversaw the construction of Anfa Academy, faces charges of misappropriating Rs 580 million of association’s funds.