The football governing body has advised the African
nation until to reinstate the NFF board, after it was dismissed by a Jos court.
Fifa president, Infatino has warned that the sacked Nigeria Football
Federation (NFF) board should be reinstated, or it says it will impose
sanctions on the country.
The executive board of the Nigeria Football
Federation was fired by a Federal High Court ruling in Jos on Friday following
the nullification of the election of Amaju Pinnick.
The court ordered challenger Chris Giwa to take over
the leadership of the NFF with immediate effect and ordered the sports
minister, Solomon Dalung to recognise his election victory at the August 26,
2014 polls.
Fifa, however, has criticised the move, claiming it
goes against the organisation's principle of country's football associations
being independent bodies and expressing concern over the outside interference.
“We would like to remind you that according to
articles 13 and 17 of the Fifa statutes, all members associations have to
manage their affairs independently and with no influence from third parties,”
Fifa wrote in a letter mailed to the NFF and signed by acting secretary general
Markus Kattner.
“In addition
and according to article 68 of the Fifa Statutes, recourse to ordinary courts
of law is prohibited unless specifically provided for in the Fifa regulations.
“Furthermore, it is the duty of each member
association to ensure that these provisions are implemented by its members and
possibly take sanctions against those which fail to respect these obligations.
“In view of the above, the decision of the Federal
High Court in Jos, if implemented, would likely be considered as interference
in the internal affairs of the NFF and the case would be brought to the highest
authorities of FIFA for consideration of sanctions, including the suspension of
the NFF,” it concluded.
