Tashi Ghale, relieved of the post as honorary president of All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), raised question on the working ways of the football governing body admitting he felt humiliated over his ‘sacking’.

Ghale, nominated after Karma Tshering Sherpa won the ANFA presidential elections on May 5 last year, was relieved of his honorary post by the ANFA executive committee meeting on January 17. ANFA had suspected Ghale of leaking infamous audio tape recordings of ‘irregularities’ during election involving conversation of top ANFA officials including general secretary Indraman Tuladhar and treasurer Rabindra Man Joshi among others.     

But Ghale, also the former President of ‘A’ Division outfits Manang Marshyangdi Club and former ANFA vice president, was reinstated on February 17 by Patan High Court verdict acting on his writ petition. Issuing an interim order, the Court ordered ANFA not to strip Ghale of his honorary post and to furnish clarification for relieving Ghale from the post within 15 days.

Ghale was one of the close allies in the lead up to the ANFA election but he was soon at the loggerheads with Sherpa. “I accept I am one of the characters in the infamous audio recordings. But I am also looking at how the audio recording leaked,” said Ghale adding that the tape scandal was already under investigation by the National Sports Council (NSC) and Ministry of Youth and Sports. “I am ready to face charges if I found guilty on tape scandal,” said Ghale.

Ghale also claimed that ANFA could not strip him of honorary position since it was non-executive designation offered to him for his long service on football. “The executive meeting had given me the honorary post as per the ANFA statute and there is no provision of striping the title. Moreover, how could they take back the honour which they themselves gave to me,” he said.

Ghale also blamed Nabin Pandey, the international relation advisor at ANFA who holds the German passport, of running ANFA from behind the curtain. Ghale also made claims of financial irregularities at ANFA. He alleged ANFA of producing fake bills from Hotel View Bhrikuti during the AFC U-16 Women Championship Qualifier last year to deceive Asian Football Confederation.   

“I was with the Sherpa-led team in their battle with the now disgraced former president Ganesh Thapa under the slogan of change ANFA. But nothing has been changed despite the change of guard in the last one year. I will continue to fight against any sort of irregularities in football. If they mend their ways, I am happy to work with them for the good of football,” said Ghale.