On January 12, the Patan High Court issued a temporary interim order against the All Nepal Football Association, ordering the governing body of Nepali football to halt the process for its early elections for the time being.

The High Court had called the parties concerned for a hearing on January 20 before deciding on the case.

“The bench analysed the case’s application and attached documents alongside hearing the arguments of senior advocate Bhimarjun Acharya and advocates Apurba Khatiwoda, Suman Kumar KC and Rochak Regmi,” read the order issued by the single bench of Justice Kripasur Karki over the case filed by Amit Khatri. “But regarding the interim order, it shall be decided only after hearing the arguments from both parties. The hearing has been scheduled for January 20.”

However, the ANFA did not adhere to the court’s order and continued with the election process. The candidacy was opened on Saturday with a number of individuals filing their nominations for different posts.

ANFA plans to hold its early elections in Jhapa on February 11.

Why early elections?

The ANFA has defended its plan for early elections, citing that the current executive body wanted to take a fresh mandate at a time when they were questioned and criticised for not doing well for Nepali football.

Organising a press meet on January 3, ANFA General Secretary Kiran Rai had claimed that the early elections abided by the ANFA Staute. However, questions have been raised whether or not it can be called a fresh mandate if there are no elections conducted at the district and provincial levels.

The district and provincial associations send their representatives to cast votes for the central executive committee of the ANFA. As per stakeholders, it would not be a fresh mandate if the old committees at the district and provincial associations, which voted for current ANFA President Pankaj Bikram Nembang, send their representatives.

“We cannot force district and provincial associations, which are autonomous entities, as per our Statute,” Rai had clarified. “Early elections have opened the doors for those who have been blaming us to come to the ring and contest for the post. We do not care if we lose. We want a fresh mandate, that’s all.”

Since the ANFA went on with the election process, representatives of those who opposed it also filed their candidacies on Saturday.

Green light from FIFA, AFC

The Patan High Court had given a yellow light to the early elections by giving a temporary interim order. Whether it would be a red or a green light would have probably been decided on January 20.

However, the ANFA have moved forward without being concerned by the order of the Court. The reason: they are confident that their steps are as per the laws of the ANFA, FIFA and AFC.

And on Sunday, the ANFA’s confidence got a boost with the green light from the governing body of Asian and global football.

According to a January 16 letter signed by Elkhan Mammadov, FIFA’s chief member associations officer, and Vahid Kardany, AFC’s deputy general secretary of member associations, the two governing bodies ‘have no objection to ANFA proceeding with the Executive Committee elections scheduled for February 11’.

“The organisation and holding of the next ANFA elective congress on February 11, a few months before the expiry of the current mandate, is fully consistent with your Statutes and does not raise in our views any governance-related concerns,” the letter to the ANFA states.

Citing that the member associations have the obligation to manage their affairs independently and without undue influence from any third parties, the letter states, “Any violation of this obligation may lead to sanctions as provided for in the FIFA and AFC Statutes, which may also include a suspension of the relevant member associations. Such sanctions may be imposed even if the third-party influence is/was not the fault of the member association concerned.”