UPDATED: FIFA suspends Nigeria

The FIFA Emergency Committee has just announced the suspension of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), citing government interference.

The suspension is with immediate effect.

Announcing its decision on Wednesday, the committee hinged its decision on Article 13, par. 1 and article 17, par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes, which obliges member associations to “manage their affairs independently and with no influence from third parties.”

FIFA secretary-general, Jerome Valcke, had written a letter to NFF on July 4, expressing the body’s “great concern” after the NFF was served with court proceedings that was followed by a court order preventing the president of the NFF, the NFF executive committee members and the NFF congress from running the affairs of Nigerian football.

The court order also empowered minister of sports, Tamuno Dagogo, to appoint a senior member of the civil service to manage the NFF until the determination of the matter in court, even though the date for the hearing was still unknown.

Tamuno then appointed Lawrence Katiken to run Nigerian football, an action that displeased FIFA.

“The authorities then appointed a person who decided to convene an extraordinary general assembly on July 5, 2014,” the committee observed.

“This extraordinary general assembly was convened in violation of the NFF statutes. Originally, an elective congress had been planned by the NFF to take place on August 26, 2014.”

FIFA said the suspension will be lifted once the court actions have been withdrawn and the properly-elected NFF executive committee, the NFF general assembly and the NFF administration are able to work without any interference in their affairs.

In line with Article 14 par. 3 of the FIFA Statutes, the suspension implies that “no team from Nigeria of any sort (including clubs) can have any international sporting contact”.

Also, during the period of suspension, the NFF cannot be represented in any regional, continental or international competitions, including at club level, or in friendly matches.

“The most immediate effect is that Nigeria will not be entitled to participate in the upcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup (August 5 – 24, 2014) should the suspension not be lifted by July 15, 2014,” the committee said.

In addition, the NFF or any of its members or officials are ineligible to benefit from any FIFA or CAF development programmes, courses or training during the suspension period.