Himalayan News Service

Lalitpur, January 28

Ganesh Thapa, president of All Nepal Football Association, today said that re-election was the only way out to resolve the current crisis of the Nepal Olympic Committee.

Speaking at a press conference organised by ANFA to clarify its stand on the row after the NOC crisis was compared to that of ANFA faced for two years, Thapa said that the NOC crisis was different as compared to ANFA. "We took players to international events despite the ban from the government, but the case here is not similar as none of the athletes can take part in any international events if the IOC suspends Nepal," said Thapa, who is also the vice president of National Sports Council.

"We had gone to the government with our plans and programmes and demanded the reinstataion of ANFA as we had done a lot for the development of football in Nepal, but NOC is not in the position to demand the government for its re-establishment of NOC as they have done nothing for the development of sports and the betterment of athletes and sports associations," said Thapa.

"The National Sports Council has provided them the opportunity to hold elections again as per their bye-laws, but we did not get that chance," said Thapa, who laid down options for NOC to resolve the matter.

According to Thapa, the row could be resolved if the three sides — NSC, de-registered

NOC and ad-hoc NOC — agreed for a discussion. He also said

that the other option was if Rana-led NOC made commitment to hold re-elections fairly, within a month or two.

Thapa, who alleged that the de-registered NOC held illegal elections, also said that the NOC had not even invited its general assembly members to attend a single assembly in last 10 years. "We, as a member of general assembly, were not invited for the elections, and how can that elections be legal in absence of most of the sports associations and when they have not even formed regional bodies," questioned Thapa.

"We are here not to criticise anybody, but they should be punished who go beyond NSC directives and existing laws," said Thapa, who also favoured independence for sports associations.

"When IOC and OCA have already threatened of suspension, NOC officials should be serious on the matter as it bars athletes from international events," said Thapa, who alleged NOC officials of not being serious towards the development of sports in Nepal.

Thapa said that he was ready to take steps to resolve the problem. "It is the athletes who have to suffer if Nepal is suspended, and the athletes would never forgive them for their selfish act," he said.