ANFA to cover injured footballer's treatment despite funding delay

The All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) reaffirmed its commitment to covering all treatment expenses for injured national footballer Aashish Rai. ANFA stated that a delay in financial support was due to its suspension by FIFA and the subsequent freezing of its financial transactions.

Rai has been undergoing treatment and rehabilitation for the past 17 months following a severe leg injury sustained in February last year. ANFA has managed his care, including surgeries and rehabilitation in Nepal and specialized treatment in Bangkok, Thailand, for which it released 1 million Nepalese rupees.

Despite doctors advising Rai to continue rehabilitation in Nepal, he wished to remain in Thailand. ANFA mentioned that its general secretary had approved further financial assistance before the FIFA suspension. However, the suspension and a directive from the National Sports Council to halt ANFA's operations created technical difficulties in transferring funds.

ANFA assured that it would bear all expenses until Rai's full recovery and would resume pending payments and treatment processes as soon as its legal and administrative issues are resolved. This statement follows a report in The Kathmandu Post detailing Rai's allegations that his treatment had stalled due to ANFA's lack of financial assistance, prompting him to seek funds from football fans online.