FIFA has moved to halt further action on Nigeria’s proposed football reforms, saying it has yet to reach a conclusion on the ongoing crisis within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
In a September 7 email to Barrister Emmanuel Ikpeme, signed by FIFA Chief Member Associations Officer Elkhan Mammadov, the world football governing body said it and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) were still examining the legal, administrative, governance and electoral implications of the developments within the NFF.
The clarification appears to contradict earlier reports that FIFA and the National Sports Commission (NSC), whose delegation was led by its chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and Director General, Bukola Olopade, had reached an understanding on the proposed reforms.
FIFA stressed that no decision had been taken on what action should follow the ongoing assessment.
“At this stage, FIFA and CAF have not reached any conclusions regarding the matters under review and no determination has been made with respect to any potential next steps,” Mammadov stated.
As part of its immediate response, FIFA asked that the NFF’s ongoing electoral process be suspended. It directed that no additional steps or decisions relating to the process should be taken until further notice.
The request, according to FIFA, is intended to preserve the status quo while the organisation and CAF complete their review. It added that the suspension should not be interpreted as a ruling on the validity of any position, decision or process advanced by the various stakeholders.
FIFA also clarified the communication channel it wants to maintain during the process. Ikpeme was identified as the NFF’s Deputy General Secretary and designated as the primary contact between the NFF, FIFA and CAF. The letter did not recognise him as Acting General Secretary.
Meanwhile, FIFA and CAF are planning a joint assessment mission to Abuja at the earliest opportunity. The delegation is expected to meet representatives of the NFF administration, NFF members, electoral bodies and the Federal Government, including officials of the NSC.
The mission will seek to establish the facts surrounding the recent developments, hear the positions of the different stakeholders and determine whether any issues require further consideration under the applicable FIFA, CAF and NFF regulations.
FIFA said that after the assessment, it and CAF would decide whether recommendations or proposals should be presented to their respective decision-making bodies.
Until that process is completed, FIFA cautioned stakeholders against drawing conclusions about its eventual position, stressing that “the outcome of the assessment remains open.”
Ezeana Emmanuel
