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Nigeria risks ban due to FA wranglings, FIFA says

Xinhua, April 12, 2016 Adjust font size:

World football governing body FIFA has said the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is likely to be banned due to the crisis that is currently rocking its boat.

FIFA, in a letter to the leadership of the NFF on Monday, said it would likely consider as an interference the implementation of last Thursday's reaffirmation of ruling by a Federal High Court in the city of Jos, which nullified the election of Amaju Pinnick as the FA's president and upheld the election of his challenger, Chris Giwa.

The letter signed by FIFA acting Secretary General, Markus Kattner, warned that it would take the matter to its highest authorities for consideration of sanctions, such as the suspension of NFF, if the court order was implemented.

"In this respect, and first of all, we would like to remind you that according to articles 13 and 17 of the FIFA Statutes, all member associations have to manage their affairs independently and with no influence from third parties," the FIFA letter stated, adding that the decision of the Nigerian court, if implemented, will likely be considered as an interference in the internal affairs of the NFF. Endit