Patan High Court orders government to allow ANFA officials to travel abroad

Patan High Court has intervened in the government's travel ban on All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) officials, ordering that they not be restricted from traveling abroad. The decision came from a division bench comprising justices Ganesh Prasad Baral and Tejendra Prasad Sharma Sapkota.

The ban had significant repercussions, preventing ANFA president Pankaj Bikram Nembang and general secretary Kiran Rai, along with 24 other officials, from participating in crucial international events. They were barred from attending FIFA and AFC congresses in Vancouver, Canada, and were denied boarding for a flight to Mexico for the 2026 FIFA World Cup opening match.

FIFA had previously viewed the government's interference as a serious violation of the autonomy of member associations, leading to the indefinite suspension of Nepali football on June 24. The Ministry of Education and Sports had defended the ban, stating that ANFA officials would only be allowed to travel when Nepali football showed promise.

While the High Court's order on Friday is a significant development likely to prompt the government to reconsider its stance, it is not the final judgment. The court stated that further analysis would be conducted before a final verdict, but until then, the defendants are prohibited from obstructing ANFA officials' international travel.

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There will be further analysis by the time for the final verdict. Until then, the defendants have been ordered not to obstruct ANFA officials from travelling abroad.