Subas Humagain
The romantic mood of Martyrs Memorial A Division League received a jolt on Tuesday with a sensational letter. After the completion of the seventh round of league matches and selection of team to represent Nepal in the AFC Cup, the clubs were busy as usual preparing for the next round. However, a letter posted by former president of All Nepal Football Association Ganesh Thapa on his social media, which was also circulated to media persons concurrently, drew all the attention.
Former president Thapa posted a letter on social media which he had registered with ANFA requesting its current president to allow him express his views during the upcoming executive meeting of ANFA scheduled for January 6.
He also sent emails to media persons confirming that he has requested ANFA President Karma Chhiring Sherpa to allow him to speak during the upcoming executive meeting of the football governing body. He said that he had also attached the letter sent to ANFA with the email.
It soon grabbed all the headlines in the local media. The public has been giving mixed reaction to Thapa’s letter. Thapa himself shared links of a few media and also commented on the news. Thapa has been actively involved in expressing his views regarding the activities of ANFA through social media of late. But this is the first time he has written an official letter to ANFA.
Thapa has been expressing his displeasure over the working style of ANFA in recent interviews and columns. He has time and again gone live on Facebook and tried to answer the queries of the general public. In most of those expressions, Thapa has been responding to the accusations against him politely. Besides his personal accounts, he has also been expressing his views on the comments section of some media outlets’ social media pages.
In 2015, FIFA had banned Thapa from all activities related to football for ten years. A letter sent to Thapa by FIFA on November 13, 2015 states that he has been found guilty of breaching various rules FIFA’s code of conduct including general rules of conduct (article 13), loyalty (article 15), duty of disclosure, cooperation and reporting (article 18), conflict of interest (article 19), receiving gifts and other benefits (article 20) and corruption (article 21).
The letter clearly states that Thapa has been banned for all activities related to football for ten years whether it is related to domestic or international football or administrative issues, on field activities or any other activities. He was also instructed to pay a fine of 20,000 Swiss Francs (equivalent to Rs 2.5 million) within 30 days.
Although Thapa had appealed against the decision of FIFA, the world football governing body’s Appeals Committee dismissed his appeal five months later and upheld the decision to ban him for 10 years. When the Appeals Committee started investigation, Thapa voluntarily decided to stay away from football-related activities for 210 days. Therefore his action was taken against him effective from April 16, 2015.
A FIFA Ethics Committee had found Thapa guilty of committing various acts of misconduct including soliciting and accepting cash payments from another football official, for both personal and family gain. The incidents were especially related to the 2009 and 2011 FIFA elections through AFC Congress. Unhappy with the decision of the Appeal Committee, Thapa has said he would move the Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS).
Thapa has maintained till date that FIFA took action against him for taking personal loan for family business from the then AFC President Mohammad bin Hammam.
Thapa has become active at a time when ANFA’s election is approaching. His move has now become official after registering a letter with ANFA to allow him to express his views.
His latest move clearly indicates that he intends to return to football activities during the period of 10-year ban. He is adamant that he has the right to speak during ANFA executive committee meeting which he has mentioned in Facebook comment. He made such remark in response to a comment by Birendra Karki, who asked if he can officially express his views during ANFA meeting at a time when the ban is still effective. Responding to another comment by Kumar Byan who suggested him to speak with ANFA officials outside the meeting, Thapa pointed to Michael Platini addressing the UEFA Congress.
Platini had indeed addressed UEFA Congress in 2016 while he was banned by FIFA. But that was after permission from FIFA ethics committee to give a farewell speech. Platini was banned for four years for receiving money from the then FIFA boss in 2011. Platini admitted to the charge and addressed the Congress that was called to choose his successor.
Thapa on the other hand has mentioned in the letter that the accusations made by ANFA President Sherpa against him and his family have given him mental stress. Thapa has said that his request to Sherpa for self-criticism was ignored and the latter made more attempts for his character assassination. Thapa has requested ANFA to give him an opportunity to clarify about all these issues.
In the letter, Thapa has claimed that the issue is personal and has nothing to do with FIFA. Therefore, he argued that he has the right to speak. Thapa has also stated that he is ready to face action if he is proven guilty otherwise Sherpa should face disciplinary action as per FIFA’s code of conduct for making baseless accusations.
However, it is Thapa who could be at the receiving end for not abiding by the decision of FIFA. As per Clause 80 of the FIFA code of conduct, it is the member state and its officials who are responsible to ensure whether the decisions of the disciplinary committee of FIFA are properly implemented or not. It means that Thapa could land in trouble if any ANFA official reports about his latest activities to FIFA.
FIFA has clearly stated that Thapa cannot be involved in any activity related to football for ten years. Although he has said it is a personal matter, the nature of his letter seeking apology from Sherpa could backfire.
Only a few months ago, AFC had instructed ANFA not to include any banned player or official in any activity related with ANFA. Such players and officials cannot even participate in the Veterans and Futsal Tournament organized with technical assistance of ANFA. But Thapa has requested to allow him to speak during the executive committee meeting of ANFA.
Thapa was silent for a few years regarding the activities of ANFA in the initial period of his ban. However, he has become active with the election of ANFA approaching near. His latest move has been viewed with great interest by football enthusiasts. However, it is almost impossible for Thapa to speak during the meeting set with many agendas including the date of election.
Thapa’s move is a bit of a surprise. Thapa, who has remained silent for 6 years and 8 months of his ban, could have returned back to football had he remained silent for yet another term of ANFA.
Despite his ban, Thapa was internally active in domestic football of Nepal. His role could be vital during the election for the post of ANFA president which is likely to be contested by the incumbent president Sherpa and Senior Vice President Pankaj Nembang. Sherpa and Nembang who were in the same panel during the last election are now aspiring to lead the ANFA.
What unfolds next will depend upon the executive committee meeting of ANFA to be held on January 6.
Thapa on the other hand has only risked his return back to football in the next term by registering the letter when his ban was about to expire within a few years. His move is akin to setting up his own pyre if any disgruntled ANFA official or Sherpa reports his activities to FIFA.
