KATHMANDU, Aug 7: All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) on Friday rejected former ANFA president Geeta Rana´s (supported by Nepal Sports Council) candidacy for ANFA president. The ANFA claimed that Rana had non-ANFA members to support her nomination. [break]
Rana, however, threatened to move court for legal remedy. “I will seek justice from court,” she said. Rana had reached the National Sports Council (NSC) at around 11 am to file her candidacy for the post of ANFA president, the election for which is scheduled for September 7. Then Rana went to ANFA complex, Satdobato, to file her actual nomination at around 12:30 p.m.
The ANFA election committee, however, rejected her nomination citing that she had used non-ANFA members as supporters and approvers in her application. Election committee co-coordinator Keshav Bhattarai said, “As per the ANFA statute, only ANFA members can approve or support a candidate. Geeta Rana´s nomination paper has 7 Districts Football Associations (DFA) as approvers and supporters that are not ANFA members.” He added that her application was rejected on the same ground.
Rana´s nomination was approved and supported by ´A´ Division football club Bouddha, Kailali DFA, Kanchanpur DFA, Dadeldhura DFA, Darchula DFA, Achham DFA, Bajhang DFA, Kalikot DFA, Doti DFA and Bajura DFA. The Bouddha football club, Kailali DFA and Kanchanpur DFA are the only ANFA members among her supporters. Reacting to Rana´s threat to move court, ANFA President Ganesh Thapa said, “I am sure that the court will deliver verdict in line with the ANFA statute. ANFA has only 40 DFAs in Nepal. Rana has claimed the support of non-ANFA members which is ridiculous." He further added, “Its one´s right to go to court for help. However, I am least bothered.”
As per new ANFA statute, which was approved on June 26 in Chitwan during ANFA and Nepal Football Club (NFA) meeting, at least 5 approvers and 5 supporters are required to file nomination for the post of ANFA president.
ANFA has altogether 72 members, 40 DFAs, 20 ´A´ Division football clubs, 5 ´B´ Division clubs, 3 ´C´ Division clubs and one member each from Referees association, football players association, women´s football players associations and coaches associations.
ANFA president Ganesh Thapa has already filed his nomination with the support of 68 members out of 72 members on July 31. Three Departmental football clubs, Nepal Police Club (NPC), Nepal Army Club (NAC) and Armed Police Force (APF) have kept mum, while Bouddha Football Club is the only club which has publicly expressed support for Rana´s candidacy. The “A” division football league has been stalled for the last three years.
The dispute between ANFA and NFA had come to an end after the working committee meeting of the ANFA passed the new football statute jointly prepared by NFA and ANFA on June 26 in Chitwan. ANFA and NFA had reached a seven-point agreement in December to resolve the dispute and formed a joint statute drafting committee paving way for the election.
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