Kunwar blames ‘Change ANFA’ group of massive corruption in elections

Kathmandu, September 24

Former senior vice-president of All Nepal Football Association Mani Kunwar today accused the ANFA leadership of splashing money to win the elections four months ago.

Speaking at a press meet, Kunwar said the Change ANFA group, led by current president of ANFA Karma Tsering Sherpa, used illegal means to claim the power in Nepali football. Kunwar, one of the two candidates of the ANFA president post in the elections, had announced his withdrawal from the race on the eve of the electoral general assembly saying the AGM was illegal and against the statute. Sherpa and his team — who run campaign under the slogan of Change ANFA — won all 17 seats in the elections held on May 5.

“I knew they were using illegal means to win the elections but I did not have proof then. I decided to withdraw from the elections as I did not want to be the part of that assembly which was being held illegally,” said Kunwar. “Today, I have got solid evidences that they won the elections illegally and against the ethics,” he added.

Kunwar mainly accused Sherpa and his team of wrongdoings and misdeeds in six points — threatening of elections committee members and bribing them; giving cash to voters; spending large amount of money to take the voters to different parts of Nepal and India; arranging Europe tour to the voters soon after the elections; taking court officials into their confidence through bribing; and distribution of hundreds of air tickets to the voters.

“I had received reports of massive corruption before the general assembly but I could not speak then as I did not have any proof,” said Kunwar. “So I just decided to withdraw from the elections and stay away from the general assembly which was held on false grounds,” he added. “I have already written about this to the FIFA and AFC and the international bodies have forwarded the case to ethics committee,” said Kunwar, who also submitted the memorandum to Ministry for Youth and Sports and National Sports Council. “I am 200 per cent sure that the international bodies will take necessary action.”

Kunwar, who is also the vice-president of South Asian Football Federation, said he was ready to give all the evidences to the concerned authorities if they needed them for investigation. “I will give all the evidences to the ministry or any other investigating authority. I would also like to urge the MoYS and NSC to respond on the memorandum regarding the participation of Nabin Pandey in the FIFA Congress,” he said.

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