Nigeria may avert FIFA ban as FG intensifies discussions with body

Nigeria may have averted a threat to its membership of world football community, following Federal Government’s move to adhere to rules governing the game.

World football ruling body, FIFA, had threatened to ban Nigeria from international football if government continued its interference in the game’s administration as noticed in recent actions of Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung.

But The Guardian learnt yesterday that government has been able to prove that it was working to correct the ‘false impressions’ created by recent events in the country’s game, especially the leadership tussle between Jos-based Chris Giwa and the NFF board headed by Amaju Pinnick.

The NFF has been embroiled in a leadership tussle, which has seen Chris Giwa, backed by Sports Minister, Dalung, using force to occupy the Federation’s secretariat on many occasions.

On Friday in Jos, a Federal High Court hearing the suit between Giwa and the NFF failed to vacate the ex-parte granted Giwa on June 5, which gave him the impetus to declare himself as NFF president. The trial judge adjourned the case indefinitely.

However, The Guardian learnt that Federal Government has been able to convince FIFA that it has no intention of breaching the protocol it agreed to before joining the body.

“The Federal Government has accepted to work with FIFA to restore peace in Nigerian football. So, FIFA will not ban the country as it threatened.

“We expect a positive pronouncement from FIFA at the end of the deadline given to us, because we have assured them of our readiness to play by the rules,” the source, who pleaded anonymity, said.