Little difference between Ganesh Thapa & banned President of Mongolian FA

Of late, the alleged corruption charges against President of All Nepal Football Association Mr. Ganesh Thapa and some of his inner circle associates continue to snowball and make big headlines. It has become the center of national and international attention.

Jolted by the recent turn of events, Mr. Ganesh Thapa is in full panic mode.  In a desperate attempt to hit back at critics and quell the situation, he along with his supporters, including his brother Kamal Thapa held a series of press meets only to backfire.

Mr. Kamal Thapa pointed an accusatory finger at   some media people, defending his brother. He ridiculously accused journalists with vested interests of reprehensible attempt to discredit his brother.

This is nothing but desperateness of Mr. Ganesh Thapa and his supporters’ circumstance.

We are yet to see   the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) initiate an investigation against President of All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) Mr.Thapa, despite the steady hue and cry from various quarters, including the Public Accounts Committee, (PAC) over the corruption charges.

The call   for Mr.Thapa’s investigation is getting louder, vociferous by the day.

It is beyond one’s imagination that the government has not paid heed to public outcry and demand for an investigation.

What is taking them so long to investigate him? I don’t have the answer. All I can say is, this is absolutely appalling, upsetting and against the will of the entire sport fraternity in the country.

The government has to step up, show decisiveness, take the matter very seriously and without further delay launch an investigation against Mr.Thapa at center of firestorm and see what comes out of the findings.

Mr.Thapa, however, remains defiant as ever and denies all charges leveled against him. In a display of arrogance and disrespect, he has refused to follow directives of PAC and the Ministry of the Youth and Sports to stay away from office for two months.

He continues to carry out his   official duties, in a direct challenge to the government. It is laughable and sad at the same time that the government has failed to bring him to his knees. I have to admit that Mr.Thapa has made a mockery of the whole system

Every person is under legal obligation to obey orders of the government. If someone refuses to obey the order, the government must go in for tough measures against the person, making sure he/she follows the directives.

The government cannot be a bystander when it comes to dealing with a person like Mr.Ganesh Thapa who is guilty of disobeying orders from its agencies.

 Also it is the government’s   responsibility to resolve the impasse at the earliest to rescue   the most popular sport from further going into the abyss.

The dilly- dally approach on part of the government has brought more uncertainty to Nepal football that has been ill managed by the present ANFA for over two decades. This should end, and has to end now.

If the government thinks FIFA stands in the way of the investigation, they should immediately apprise them of the current situation and explain the reasons Mr.Thapa needs to be investigated.

Mr. Thapa vehemently denies any wrongdoing on the home front. Everyone knows he lies through his teeth. Interestingly, he has maintained an eerie silence over the kickbacks in the form of illegal payments he received from disgraced, corrupt former President of AFC Mr. Mohammad Bin Hammam.

More importantly, he is guilty of receiving kickbacks, and that alone makes him guilty of bribery, and corruption.

It has been reported that Mr.Thapa took/received money from the Qatari numerous times, thus violating the FIFA codes of ethics (if there is one). FIFA needs to address, act and resolve the crisis surrounding Nepal Football as soon as possible.

Now that the ball is in FIFA’s court, the decision in this matter lies with the FIFA Ethics Committee.  Mr.Thapa’ s future rests on their decision also.

If the adjudicatory Chamber of the FIFA Ethics Committee can ban President of the Mongolian Football Federation, Ganbold Buyannemekh for five years for taking bribes from Mr. Hammam, Mr.Thapa facing similar bribery charges deserves to be booted out of office and suspended, as well,

It would be very unfair, wrong, unfortunate, should FIFA decide to protect Mr.Thapa who was one of the closest associates of   Mr. Hammam.