KATHMANDU: Ganesh Thapa was barred from attending the All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) General Assembly held at the municipal hall in Dhulikhel, Kavrepalanchok.

Despite arriving at the venue, he was stopped by Nepal Police and ANFA security guards from entering the assembly hall. Thapa, along with his supporters and ANFA officials, stood outside the venue holding placards after being denied entry.

Thapa’s attendance at the General Assembly comes after completing a 10-year ban imposed by FIFA. He had also filed a petition with the Patan High Court demanding his right to participate in ANFA’s regular programs.

On Chaitra 20, 2081, ANFA had written to its affiliated clubs and general members, requesting the submission of the list of voting representatives for the General Assembly scheduled for Baisakh 26.

Following this, RC 32 Club Academy decided on Baisakh 15 to send Thapa as its representative to the General Assembly. However, ANFA’s General Secretary Damodar Bhattarai filed a petition at the Patan High Court seeking to block Thapa’s participation.

The Patan High Court, with a bench of Justices Tanka Prasad Gurung and Dilliratna Shrestha, rejected ANFA’s plea, ruling in favor of Thapa. The court order stated that Thapa’s presence would not adversely affect the General Assembly scheduled for Baisakh 26, thus upholding its earlier decision made on Baisakh 21.

Despite the court’s ruling, Thapa and his son, Gaurav Thapa, were still denied entry and remained outside the venue.
Kavre Police reported that they were deployed as per ANFA’s request for security and stated that decisions regarding who could enter were managed solely by ANFA’s security personnel.