The Federal Government has decided to withdraw
its financial support for the general engagements of the national
football body, Nigeria Football Federation.
This Federal Government’s decision resulted from the recent suspension of the football body in Nigeria by the world football governing body, FIFA, which
was claimed was due tothe Nigerian government’s interference in the administration of the activities that happen in the local football clubs.
The Federal Government has decided to withhold the July’s monthly allocation of the NFF amounting to N235 million saying it does not want to be an influence of any sort to the national football body as it would be to their own advantage in line with FIFA laid down regulations.
Vanguard reports that the July 2014 allocation the FG has refused to release would have covered Nigeria’s participation in the FIFA U-20 Women World Cup, and other engagements being undertaken by the NFF for the month. Although the government decisions has thrown the NFF off balance, a top official has implored the body to find an alternative source of funding to carry out its financial obligations for the month.
Also, the Under-17 national team’s game against Congo DR this weekend has positioned them in jeopardy as well as worsen the case of the Nigeria female Under-20 team who are getting ready for the World Cup due to the unreleased funds. It could be recalled that FIFA temporarily halted Nigeria from partaking in all football related activities due to government’s alleged involvement in the affairs of the NFF.
Speaking to newsmen, an anonymous employee of NFF has revealed that the state of football in the country will be terrible and nothing to write home about with this latest development from the government. He also explained that although the NFF body gets sponsorship deals from many independent bodies, the local football body will still suffer as the sponsorship deals are not even enough to cater for the needs and financial ‘run arounds’ of the 11 teams the body caters for across the country.
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