ANFA 24 Officials Blacklisted: Immigration Department Imposes Travel Ban Amid Financial Probe
26th April 2026, Kathmandu
In a significant blow to the leadership of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), Nepal’s Department of Immigration has officially blacklisted the passports of 24 high-ranking officials.
ANFA 24 Officials Blacklisted
This group includes ANFA President Pankaj Bikram Nembang, effectively barring them from leaving the country.
The decision marks a dramatic escalation in the ongoing scrutiny of Nepal’s primary football governing body, leaving the administration in a state of crisis as international commitments loom.
Why Were the ANFA 24 Officials Blacklisted?
The move to blacklist the officials is not an isolated administrative hurdle but the result of a formal request linked to investigations into financial irregularities within the association. The process followed a strict bureaucratic chain:
Investigation Initiation: Persistent reports of financial mismanagement led to internal and external probes.
Council Recommendation: The National Sports Council (NSC) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports reviewed the findings and forwarded a recommendation for travel restrictions.
Home Ministry Action: The recommendation was approved by the Home Ministry, which then instructed the Department of Immigration to flag the passports.
Key Takeaway: Any attempt by these 24 individuals to pass through international borders will now be flagged immediately, making foreign travel impossible until the ban is legally lifted.
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Impact on International Representation and the FIFA Congress
The timing of this travel ban is particularly critical. ANFA officials were reportedly preparing for their participation in the upcoming FIFA Congress in Canada. With the ANFA 24 officials blacklisted, Nepal’s representation at one of football’s most prestigious global gatherings is now in serious jeopardy.
This restriction highlights the deepening rift between ANFA and Nepal’s sports governing bodies. The NSC has previously expressed dissatisfaction with how the association handles its internal affairs, leading to a climate of “suspension threats” and “internal probes” that have now culminated in this high-profile travel ban.
Internal Unrest and the Path Forward
The blacklisting of President Pankaj Bikram Nembang and his colleagues reflects a broader struggle for transparency within Nepalese sports. For months, ANFA has been a lightning rod for controversy, facing allegations ranging from administrative negligence to the mishandling of funds meant for football development.
What happens next?
Legal Challenges: It is expected that ANFA leadership will seek legal recourse to stay the blacklist order.
FIFA Intervention: As a member of FIFA, any government-led intervention in ANFA can sometimes be viewed as “undue influence,” which carries the risk of international suspension for the country’s footballing activities.
Investigation Transparency: Authorities have signaled that the travel ban will remain in place until the investigation provides clear answers regarding the alleged financial discrepancies.
As the situation develops, the focus remains on whether ANFA can navigate these legal hurdles or if a total overhaul of the leadership is on the horizon. For now, the ANFA 24 officials blacklisted remain grounded, leaving the future of Nepalese football administration in a state of flux.
For more: ANFA 24 Officials Blacklisted
