Nepali footballers staged a protest outside the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) Complex in Satdobato on Thursday, demanding the immediate resumption of the Martyr’s Memorial ‘A’ Division League.

Players had gathered at 11am but were stopped at the main gate. The Nepal Football Players Association sought permission to voice their demands inside the premises, which ANFA denied. ANFA spokesperson Suresh Shah had tried to mediate, while the ANFA President Pankaj Bikram Nembang and General Secretary Kiran Rai were out of Kathmandu.

After waiting for more than an hour, players demonstrated outside the gate, chanting slogans.

Players Association President Bikram Lama criticised ANFA’s approach, saying their protest would continue until their demands were met.

“We want football activities to resume and the disorder in Nepali football to end,” Lama said. “If ANFA fails to come up with a plan for the A Division within a week, we will intensify our protest.”

National team members, including Rohit Chand and Anjan Bista, and former captain Biraj Maharjan also joined the protest, expressing frustration over the league’s suspension.

ANFA has said it will not hold the A Division League this year and plans to organise a national league instead. The top-tier competition has not been held for more than two and a half years, leaving many footballers unemployed.