Kathmandu, October 11

Asian Football Confederation President Sheikh Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa today praised the All Nepal Football Association for the support in the match fixing case of Nepali footballers.

Al-Khalifa held a meeting with ANFA President Narendra Shrestha and other executive members. The AFC Disciplinary Committee, in 2015, imposed life-ban to official Anjan KC and four players — Bikash Singh Chhetri, Sandip Rai, Ritesh Thapa and Sagar Thapa — after they were found involved in match fixing. “Without ANFA’s unrelenting support the case would not have seen the light of the day,” Al-Khalifa was quoted as saying by ANFA. Al-Khalifa also said that AFC had always regarded Nepal as a country with lot of potentials in football and they proved it time and again in various age-group and senior competitions.

Meanwhile, ANFA President Shrestha said AFC’s support was great for the development of football in the country. “The nation suffered due to devastating earthquake of 2015 and the only international stadium (Dasarath Stadium), which was main source of income for ANFA, was damaged badly. However, AFC and FIFA have always been supportive to us,” said Shrestha, who asked the AFC to provide assistance for Chyasal Stadium which is being renovated by the government.

The AFC President is here in a two-day official visit along with General Secretary Dato Windsor John, Director of Member Associations Ravi Kumar and Member Association Manager Purushottam Kattel.