FIFA delays decision on Ganesh Thapa ‘s corruption charges

A recent Reuters, international news agency, damning review of football projects built with FIFA funds under its “Goal Programme” in Nepal underscores the ongoing problem of power of abuse and systemic corruption in All Nepal Football Association.

This is just one small segment of Mr. Ganesh Thapa, President of All Nepal Football Association’s (ANFA) fiefdom.

This explains everything, Mr. Thapa’s   leadership incompetence, failed governance and involvement in wide spread corruption.

This is nothing new. In fact, maladministration, unaccountability and corruption have long been the hallmarks of ANFA.

Much has been said and written on this subject, over the years, and unfortunately yielded nothing but further damage to Nepali football.

The greatest irony is that FIFA, which pumps in millions of dollars under the Goal project to support the development of football around the globe, do not seem to care whether the fund has been misappropriated or not by those in authority.

FIFA is supposed to be the custodian of the world’s most popular sport. Shockingly, it has remained a mute spectator, sitting still and doing nothing to root out corruption in football in countries like Nepal and Pakistan.

It won’t be an exaggeration to say that football power brokers at FIFA are using the fund as a tool to seek, win and buy football associations’ loyalty and support to retain and remain in power forever.

Apparently, this encourages corruption to occur throughout all levels of administration and management.

And it is no surprise that there is rampant corruption within football associations, AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), CONCACAF (North and South America and the Caribbean) and CONMEBOL (South America).

FIFA continues to rally around corrupt FA Chiefs and officials   to protect its   vested bureaucratic interests. The failure to prosecute guilty ones like Mr. Thapa speaks volumes about how it functions.

As you all know too well, Mr. Thapa has clung to power for a long period of time against all odds.  He has now been in at the helm for 21 plus years through patronage, power, influence, deceit, intimidation   and cronyism.

Despite endless controversies and allegations of corruption, Mr. Thapa has remained unscathed till now, mainly because he has the support of FIFA.

As things stand now, probably, I hate to say Mr. Thapa will cruise to yet another term. His re-election would mean more disaster for Nepali football, already tottering on the brink of destruction.

Our government has shown no serious intentions whatsoever to take any action against him so far. I do not see that happening any time soon.

If FIFA is honestly and seriously committed to curb corruption and resurrect its tainted image, it has to start from the bottom up.

Everyone knows that Mr. Thapa is currently under FIFA's investigation for alleged corruption charges.

I find it incomprehensible that the FIFA’s Ethics Committee is taking so long and hard to reach a decision.

That said, the world football body, however, has made a mockery of itself by putting him in office and letting him do the damage to Nepal football he is doing.

There is no bigger shame for them than this. The matter of fact is that FIFA cannot be trusted anymore.

Coming back to the Reuters report, it is very obvious that we have to rely on foreign news outlets for inside stories behind Nepali football.

The Reuters piece is very relevant that exposes gross corruption and misuse of funds in ANFA.  Hats Off to the news team.

The report highlights the rampant misuse of funds by Mr. Thapa led ANFA for years. More important, his lies have been exposed once again.

Does it really matter? I very much doubt, especially to our media people.

The mainstream media should feel ashamed for being too timid on Mr. Thapa and his cronies’ misdeeds, responsible for ruining Nepali football.

The majority of so-called sport journalists for the most part have remained passive, submissive about reporting the facts on an out-of-control and corrupt Mr. Thapa. Their silence has made him bolder and more corrupt. 

They have totally failed in their responsibility, which is to watchdog corrupt bureaucrats like Mr. Thapa.

The ball is in FIFA’s court, and it is entirely up to them   to   keep or remove Mr. Thapa from office. We will have to wait and see how it all unfolds.