Kathmandu, December 26

A group of four district Football Associations today made public the audio clip claiming financial irregularities during the elections of the football governing body.

Kathmandu FA President Birat Jung Shahi and his counterparts Purushottam Thapa (Lalitpur), Gautam Sujakhu (Bhaktapur) and Deepak Khatiwada (Dhading) made public the audio clips of telephone conversation involving ANFA Honorary President Tashi Ghale, General Secretary Indra Man Tuladhar, Treasurer Rabindra Joshi and Members Madhu Sudan Upadhyaya and Dawa Lama along with Dhanusha FA President Deepak Khati.

“We have sent these clips to international bodies, world governing body FIFA and Asian Football Confederation, and we will also produce these evidences before local authorities — Commission of Investigation of Abuse of Authority, Public Accounts Committee and National Sports Council,” said Lalitpur FA President Thapa at a press meet. “We hope FIFA and AFC along with the CIAA, PAC and NSC will take necessary action after investigating into the matter.”

The group accused the ANFA officials of spending millions of rupees to influence the election committee, court and voters along with managing ‘close camp’ for the district representatives in different cities of India. “Apart from that, the Change ANFA group is also found to have spent a lot of money in buying air tickets and also threatening the election committee members of life,” the group said in a press release. “We have proofs that ANFA President Karma Tsering Sherpa and Vice-president Pankaj Bikram Nembang among others were involved in all these activities,” it claimed.

The Change ANFA group had clean swept the elections on May 5 under the leadership of Karma Tsering Sherpa after president’s another candidate Mani Kunwar withdrew from the race saying the elections was illegal and accusing his opponents of massive financial irregularities.