On March 7, the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) proposed a league-cum-knockout tournament as a replacement for this year’s A Division League. The reason for the proposal was to claim the slot provided by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to Nepal in the AFC Club Competition.

Basically, the winner of Nepal’s Martyr’s Memorial A Division League qualifies for the AFC Challenge League. It was under this process that Church Boys United (CBU), winner of the 2023 season, faced Bhutan’s Paro FC in August last year.

However, with no league being organised in 2024 and 2025, ANFA has no club to send as Nepal’s representative in the pathway to Asia’s top-tier club competition.

“We decided on the league-cum-knockout tournament for the clubs,” ANFA spokesperson Suresh Shah told the Post. “It will allow the best among the Nepali clubs to compete against the best from across Asia. We do not want to squander such an opportunity.”

However, A Division clubs were not much interested when they first heard of the proposal earlier this month. And they informally denied participation on Thursday.

“Most of the A Division clubs’ representatives were present in a function at the office of Friends’ Club Kopundole to congratulate the newly elected members from Machhindra Club and New Road Team (NRT),” CBU President Reuben Rai told the Post. “During the event, a discussion took place over the new knockout format. In the end, we informally decided not to participate in the given situation.”

According to Rai, the clubs have not signed any agreement or minutes as a decision. “It was an off-the-cuff conclusion. We will make a final decision only after discussing with ANFA.”

ANFA also said they have not received any formal decision or letter from the clubs not to participate in the tournament. “We too heard it from the media. They have not reached out to us,” said Shah.

Meanwhile, Shah stressed that ANFA would soon hold a meeting with the A Division clubs and hear their concerns.

“Can a knockout football competition truly replace a league, and how long does it take to fulfil the Club Licensing criteria? And is it possible for all clubs to obtain it...when was the policy formulated to allow participation in the AFC Tournament through means other than playing in the league?” Karma Tsering Sherpa, president of Himalayan Sherpa Club, posted on his Facebook on Friday.

Sherpa, who is also a former president of ANFA, argued that the knockout tournament aimed to hide ANFA’s failure to hold the league regularly.

“AFC wants Nepal to take part in the club competition. This is why they accepted Nepal’s proposal to organise the knockout tournament,” said Sanjib Mishra, ANFA’s tournament director. “It is mentioned in the AFC Club Competitions–Entry Regulations that a domestic cup can be the basis for club selection in the absence of the domestic league.”

ANFA officials added that they and the AFC would do their best to help A Division clubs complete the criteria. “We will soon meet the A Division clubs and discuss this issue. We want a Nepali club in the Asian tournament.”

Nonetheless, A Division clubs clarified that ANFA would need more than verbal assurances to convince them.

Rai said, “AFC club licensing criteria have been followed by half of the A Division clubs. Does this not matter those who have not? Nepal’s requirement of visas and work permits for foreign players is an extreme hassle. There is not enough time [for that].”

“Yet, if ANFA can guarantee that the clubs will not suffer and satisfy our other concerns, we might still accept the tournament. Or else, Nepal might have to give up the slot for the AFC tournament.”