KATHMANDU: Two officials of the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) were stopped from traveling to watch the FIFA World Cup football tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The Immigration Department at Tribhuvan International Airport stopped ANFA President Pankaj Bikram Nembang and General Secretary Kiran Rai from departing the country, acting on a letter sent by the National Sports Council (NSC).
According to Immigration Department spokesperson Tikaram Dhakal, the officials were barred from travelling abroad based on a request from the Ministry through the NSC decision.
“The letter requesting us to stop their foreign travel was received from the ministry following the NSC decision. We acted accordingly and stopped both individuals from travelling,” Dhakal told Khabarhub.
He said the two officials, who were reportedly heading to Mexico, were sent back from the airport on Tuesday morning.
“Such decisions are made when individuals are under investigation or scrutiny by government bodies,” he added.
Dhakal clarified that the officials have not been blacklisted. “Blacklist is applied only in cases of criminal offences. In this case, their foreign travel has been restricted, but they have not been blacklisted,” he said.
The NSC has placed ANFA officials under monitoring amid allegations of financial irregularities. In April, the NSC had written to the Immigration Department requesting a travel restriction on all ANFA office bearers.
Earlier, both officials had visited the NSC Secretariat in Satdobato on Monday to seek permission for their trip, but the request was denied. Despite the refusal, they had reached the airport on Tuesday to travel to Mexico.
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