FIFA suspend Nigeria Football Federation for government interference

Nigerian football team may not be in action soon

The chief governing body of football FIFA has suspended Nigeria Football Federation on the reason of government interference in matters pertaining to football governance in the country.

The suspension was carried out with immediate effect from 9 July 2014.

According to Article 13, par. 1 and article 17, par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes, member countries have to deal with their affairs independently with no third party influence.

The decision was taken after a letter sent on 4 July 2014, which conveyed concern regarding the NFF. The NFF was sent a court order which prevented the president of the NFF, the NFF executive committee and the NFF congress from managing the affairs of Nigerian football. The order was granted by the High Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The order also stated that the Minister of Sports, Nigeria appoint a member of the civil service to preside over the NFF until the matter was heard in court. The court though did not feel necessary to give a date for the hearing.

The authorities then went ahead with the appointment of a person to convene a general assembly on 5 July 2014. The meeting convened was in violation of the NFF Statutes. The NFF on its part had planned an elective congress on 26 August 2014.

FIFA will lift the suspension once a working NFF is in place and the court actions have been pulled out. The NFF needs to have an elected Executive Committee and a General Assembly work without any intervention from the government to have the suspension removed.

The decision means no Nigerian team can have any international sporting contact.

The NFF may not be represented in any regional, continental or international competitions including club level or friendlies. Should the suspension not be lifted by 15 July 2014, the participation of Nigeria in the FIFA Under-20 women’s World Cup which begins on August 5 is a serious doubt.