Sports
Protesting Bhaktapur clubs withdraw case
The protesting clubs of Bhaktapur district on Tuesday withdrew their case filed against Bhaktapur District Football Association (FA) paving the way for All Nepal Football Association (Anfa) to hold the district election and eventually set the new date for central executive body’s general assembly.The protesting clubs of Bhaktapur district on Tuesday withdrew their case filed against Bhaktapur District Football Association (FA) paving the way for All Nepal Football Association (Anfa) to hold the district election and eventually set the new date for central executive body’s general assembly.
The Anfa executive committee election scheduled for Wednesday (March 28) was called off indefinitely after Patan High Court issued an interim order to stay the election acting on a writ filed by Bhaktapur and Makawanpur FAs. The football governing body on Monday started the election process of Makawanpur set for April 6 while Bhaktapur’s election was in limbo due to the court verdict. But the withdrawal of case by Bhaktapur clubs has paved way for Anfa to hold election in the district too.
Claiming that they were denied the rights to participate in Bhaktapur FA election, Bhaktapur Football Club, Bhaktapur United Club and Sirutar Sports Club have jointly field writ petition at the Bhaktapur Court on January 17. The court had issued interim order to stay the election. Later Bhaktapur FA had also filed similar writ against Anfa at the Patan High Court which ultimately led Anfa to call off the election on Sunday.
“We have withdrawn the court case in order to save Nepali football from impending AFC suspension,” said Ram Prajapati the president of Bhaktapur Club. The clubs refuted allegation of a ploy to defer the Anfa election saying that their only concern was to be part of the Bhaktapur general assembly. “Our demand was to include the eligible clubs in the general assembly of Bhaktapur FA. But Bhaktapur FA president Gautam Sukhaju ignored our calls and even Anfa turned deaf ears forcing us to knock the court’s door,” said Prajapati at a press conference attended by presidents of all three clubs.
Anfa president Narendra Shrestha said admitted that the withdrawal of case will pave way for Anfa to hold election in Bhaktapur.
“We will start election process as per the statute once we formally receive the documents. The executive committee’s election will be held promptly after consultations with election committee once the representatives from Bhaktapur and Makawanpur will be finalised,” added Shrestha.
The Anfa general assembly have 77 votes—one each from 45 district FAs and one each from 14 ‘A’ division clubs. The ‘B’ Division clubs have nine and ‘C’ division five votes while four committees—players, coaches, referee and women commission—will have one vote each.