KATHMANDU, Oct 10: All Nepal Football Association (ANFA)’s extra-ordinary congress concluded in Lalitpur on Monday, amending 38 provisions in 20 articles of its statute.

The congress also endorsed ANFA’s executive committee’s previous decision to pay Rs 15 million in damages to Three Star Club. 

The Lalitpur-based club was deprived of playing the AFC Cup Play-off competition last year due to Nepali football governing body’s negligence. The issue of compensation to Three Star was put to vote at the congress with just yes or no option without holding any discussion on the issue. Several members in the congress had demanded that the issue be discussed ahead of conducting a vote on it. 

By making amendments to the statute, the rule regarding candidacy for the executive committee members in ANFA elections has been made flexible. Now anyone having two years of experience of active participation in Nepali football can become a candidate in ANFA election. 

Earlier, only general members of the congress were considered eligible to contest the election. With the new amendments, the criteria regarding the number of members to propose and second a candidate needed to register candidacy has been made flexible. Now, candidates can register their candidacy with just a proposer and a seconder each. Earlier, it was compulsory for an aspiring candidate to have at least five proposers and five seconders.

“We have made the provisions for candidacy flexible as per the suggestions of FIFA and AFC. Anyone who has contributed to the Nepali football can now register their candidacy. With this the participation of candidates will be broadened,” said ANFA President Narendra Shrestha, during a press-meet organized after the congress. 

The congress also has decided to grant voting rights to B and C Division clubs as well. Now, B and C division clubs have nine and five votes, respectively. Earlier, B and C Division clubs had five and three votes, respectively. However, all 14 A Division clubs have the voting right. ANFA is holding its election on January 7 in the capital. 

Meanwhile the congress rejected ANFA’s proposal of limiting the number of general members coming from districts and clubs to participate in the congress. Now, they have decided to allow three members from each club and three from each district.

The congress has also decided to form an Electoral Committee, an Ethics Committee and an Appeal Committee. As per the statute, ANFA can form and nominate the members to such committees but it will not be allowed to remove them or scrap the committees.

However, the congress didn’t decide anything regarding the federal structure of ANFA. “Federal system is yet to be fully implemented in the country. Elections are yet to be held and many laws regarding the federal system are yet to be formulated. So we are not transforming the ANFA to the federal structure for now,” said ANFA President Shrestha. 

“But once the federal structure is fully implemented, ANFA will automatically follow it.” ANFA currently has five regional associations and 45 district associations. 

President Shrestha also hinted at postponing the A Division League which was scheduled to be held from November 30. “We are fully ready to host the league but since the country is holding the elections our league date is going to be affected. So, we will not have any option other than deferring it,” said Shrestha. 

The government is holding the provincial and parliamentary elections on November 30 and 
December 7.

 
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