ANFA president, general secretary and two others charged over alleged financial irregularities

Kathmandu, October 9

The District Government Attorney’s Office in Lalitpur has filed a case against All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) President Pankaj Bikram Nembang, General Secretary Kiran Rai and two other officials over alleged financial irregularities, including suspected collusion surrounding Nepal’s 2024 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Bahrain.

The other defendants are ANFA Treasurer Rabindra Joshi and accounts officer Sanjiv Pandey. The case was filed at Lalitpur District Court under Section 33(g) of the National Sports Development Act, 2020, and Section 249(3)(a) of the National Penal Code, 2017.

The case follows an investigation by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police, which concluded that ANFA’s leadership was involved in irregularities related to the Bahrain match, sports equipment procurement, FIFA World Cup tickets and sponsorship arrangements.

The allegations have not yet been established by a court.

CIB alleges collusion over Bahrain match

According to the CIB report, ANFA’s leadership played a role in making Dasharath Stadium unfit to host Nepal’s World Cup qualifying match against Bahrain in 2024.

The report says around five months remained between Nepal’s match against Yemen and the scheduled game against Bahrain. During that period, ANFA allegedly allowed non-international events to take place at the stadium, leaving the pitch unsuitable for international matches.

The CIB also said ANFA President Nembang and General Secretary Rai did not meet Asian Football Confederation (AFC) match commissioner Mindu Dorji when he visited Nepal to inspect the pitch.

The report further states that Rai had signed an agreement to hold the match in Bahrain four days before the AFC formally instructed ANFA, on March 8, 2024, to propose a neutral venue.

According to investigators, the agreement was signed without a decision from ANFA’s executive committee and without informing the Ministry of Youth and Sports or the National Sports Council (NSC). The CIB also said the delegation’s overseas trip had not received the required approval. A total of 23 players and 17 officials travelled to Bahrain.

The bureau alleged that ANFA representatives colluded with the opposing side in a manner intended to disadvantage Nepal and benefit Bahrain. It said the alleged conduct could violate Sections 31 and 32(g) of the National Sports Development Act, 2020.

$20,000 in ticket revenue unaccounted for

The CIB report says Rai and Bahrain Football Association General Secretary Rashid Al Zabi agreed that Bahrain would pay US$20,000 to ANFA as revenue from ticket sales for the match.

However, investigators found that the money had not been deposited into ANFA’s institutional account. Treasurer Joshi told investigators that he was unaware of the transaction, according to the report.

The report also found that more than Rs 3.858 million had been deposited into ANFA’s account to cover air tickets for Bahrain’s players and officials.

Irregularities alleged in equipment procurement

The CIB also concluded that ANFA suffered financial losses through the purchase of Kelme-branded sports equipment.

Under the applicable procurement rules, purchases worth more than Rs 1 million require a competitive bidding process. Investigators said ANFA did not follow that requirement.

A subcommittee formed by the NSC found that the three companies that submitted quotations — Kamaru Trading Pvt Ltd, Kamakhya Inc Pvt Ltd and Ugratara Sports Hub — were under the same ownership, raising questions about the competition and transparency of the procurement process.

According to the subcommittee’s findings, ANFA purchased sports equipment worth around Rs 140 million to Rs 150 million over the past three and a half years. The report also identified serious irregularities in the distribution of the equipment.

Questions over FIFA World Cup tickets

The CIB also found alleged irregularities in the handling of tickets for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. FIFA had provided ANFA with 330 online tickets intended for distribution among district and provincial associations, clubs, referees, coaches and players. ANFA had also corresponded with stakeholders regarding ticket purchases.

However, investigators found that ANFA did not have records detailing the prices at which the tickets were sold or the people who purchased them.

ANFA member Sarila Shrestha acknowledged taking four tickets under her name and giving them to people she did not know, according to the CIB report.

The bureau also identified alleged irregularities involving sports equipment purchases from Sherpa Outdoors and sponsorship payments linked to the company.

Four officials named as defendants

The CIB said the findings pointed to possible organised criminal intent within ANFA’s leadership. Its report attributed roles to Nembang, Rai, Joshi and Pandey in agreements made without approval from the relevant ministry and the NSC, overseas trips undertaken without authorisation, procurement through quotations and decisions allegedly contrary to the organisation’s interests.

Based on the investigation, the District Government Attorney’s Office in Lalitpur filed charges against all four officials.

Treasurer Joshi and accounts officer Pandey are in CIB custody. The government attorney’s office has asked the court to issue arrest warrants for Nembang and Rai.

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