KATHMANDU: FIFA has officially lifted its financial control restrictions on the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), ending a four-year oversight imposed in March 2021 over concerns of mismanagement and lack of transparency.

The decision was made during a meeting of FIFA’s Governance, Audit and Compliance Committee on Thursday.

ANFA confirmed the development in a statement Saturday, calling it a “major milestone” that restores the association’s full and independent access to FIFA funding.

FIFA had previously blocked direct grant disbursement, citing financial irregularities. ANFA credited the lifting of the sanctions to its recent reforms, including efforts under current President Pankaj Bikram Nembang to ensure accountability and financial discipline.

“The journey that began to end institutional chaos and bring transparency has reached a positive turning point,” ANFA stated.

The move comes shortly after ANFA was named the AFC Member Association of the Year (Gold) in October 2024.

ANFA also said it has aligned its financial systems with global standards and dismissed criticisms as politically motivated.

The association highlighted recent successes, including the women’s national team’s tour of Uzbekistan, the U-20 team’s participation in the SAFF Championship in Bangladesh, and the men’s team’s historic wins over Singapore and Afghanistan.

With the restriction removed, ANFA plans to fast-track youth, school, and grassroots football programs, along with the A-Division and President’s League.

It also thanked Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli for supporting a proposed stadium project in Kathmandu and reiterated its goal of building its own stadium with full financial transparency.