The Patan High Court has invalidated a decision by the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) that barred its former president, Ganesh Thapa, from taking part in any football activities.

In a ruling on Monday, the court said ANFA’s move to impose restrictions on Thapa went against principles of justice, as he had already served a 10-year suspension imposed by the international football governing body FIFA.

The ANFA’s Disciplinary Committee earlier on April 17 and the Ethics Committee on April 29 had invoked Article 24(3)(e) of the association’s statute to ban Thapa from any involvement in football.

The High Court concluded that no further action was necessary over matters for which Thapa had already served FIFA’s sanction. It also directed ANFA not to prevent him from taking part in football-related activities.

Despite an interim order from the court, Thapa was denied entry to ANFA’s General Assembly on May 9. He subsequently filed a contempt petition, which the High Court however dismissed citing insufficient grounds. Thapa now plans to challenge that decision at the Supreme Court.