The Appeal Committee of the All Nepal Football Association, on June 17 last year, ordered a change of Three Star Club’s 1-0 victory over Jawalakhel FC in the last match of the Martyr’s Memorial A Division League in 2023, to a 0-3 loss. The reason: APF had protested that Three Star fielded two overseas players, whose visas and labour permits had expired.

This led Three Star to knock on the doors of the Patan High Court, which, on February 25, quashed the decisions by the Appeal Committee and ordered a rehearing of the case by stepping on the principle of ‘natural justice’.

Now, similar concerns over overseas players’ visa status have led to the postponement of two major domestic leagues—ANFA National League, and Martyr’s Memorial ANFA Women’s League—from Thursday.

The second of the three matches of the National League on Thursday, between Tribhuvan Army FC and Satdobato Youth Club, was underway when ANFA, through its social media at 3:22pm, announced that the remaining matches, including the third match of the day, were postponed until further notice.

“Match No 97 and 100 to 136 of the National League have been postponed until further notice due to technical reasons,” reads the notice by ANFA.

Two hours later, at 5:48pm, ANFA published another notice regarding the postponement of the Women’s League, which only kicked off on Wednesday.

“Fixtures from Match No 5 of the Martyr’s Memorial ANFA Women’s League have been postponed until further notice due to technical reasons,” ANFA stated.

Bagmati Youth Club defeated RS Resort and Beach Football Women’s Team 5-4, while Nepal Police Club registered a 5-0 victory over Church Boys United in the two matches of the Women’s League on Thursday. The next fixtures in the Women’s League were scheduled for March 22, after a two-day break, but they have now been postponed indefinitely.

After a third amendment to the fixtures, National League’s Match No 97, between APF and Machhindra, was scheduled after Match Nos 98 and 99. APF and Machhindra’s fixture was a crucial one in the league, as the two teams have the same points and are fighting for the top position in the table.

In both the notices signed by ANFA’s Chief Executive Officer Indraman Tuladhar, ANFA did not reveal what the ‘technical reason’ was.

Department of Immigration intervenes

Yet that is not where the story ends.

The Department of Immigration on Thursday sent a letter to ANFA. The subject: ‘Regarding not allowing foreign players with tourist visas to participate in tournaments’.

The letter signed by DoI’s Director Tikaram Dhakal stated that the organisation had started an investigation into complaints that foreigners, who only had tourist visas, were being fielded by clubs in different tournaments organised by ANFA.

“If foreign players, without respective visas, are found participating in any game, legal action will be initiated immediately,” reads the letter.

Rule 20 of the Immigration Regulations-2051 states, “Foreigners who obtain a visa are not allowed to engage in any work other than the purpose for which the visa was obtained.”

Dozens of foreign players are representing clubs in the National League and Women’s League.

Moreover, it has been found that ANFA began the Women’s League without permission from the National Sports Council, the governing body of Nepali sports.

“The Council did not give permission despite continuous efforts from ANFA,” Tuladhar was quoted by Hamrokhelkud.com.

And without permission from the Council, procedures related to labour permits for foreigners do not move forward.

With the leagues postponed, clubs now face an uncertain future. Further, over a dozen clubs have been protesting outside the ANFA Complex for the third consecutive day on Thursday, demanding a proper timeline and regular leagues.

The Council has also been at loggerheads with ANFA over its decision for an early election, which has been slated for March 27 after multiple obstructions from state authorities. ANFA has been trying to bulldoze its plan for the election without a fresh mandate from the district level.