FIFA fires warning shot over Nigeria’s bow after governmental influence

FIFA announce they have sent a letter to the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) after “great concern” arose involving heavy governmental influence on the country’s soccer management.

According to multiple reports which prompted a media release by FIFA, Nigeria are at risk for FIFA sanctions after the country’s sport minister Tammy Danagogo appointed the next NFF president, Lawrence Longyir Katken.

The appointment came a day after a court fired the entire NFF executive committee following a complaint by Nigerian Premier League team Nembe City.

With the executive committee out of work, Danagogo appointed Katken as acting secretary general until the situation was resolved. FIFA’s release said:

“FIFA will not recognize any person or organ not elected in compliance with the NFF statutes (article 17, par 2 and 3 of the FIFA Statutes) and therefore it will not consider the appointment made by the Minister of Sports. An elective Congress has been duly convened by the NFF for 26 August 2014 and only decisions and persons elected then will be considered legitimate. “

Such governmental interference has in the past earned countries bans from international play. Nigeria faced a similar warning after the 2010 World Cup, but they did not receive a ban.

Nigerian players were also involved in problems with World Cup benefits both immediately before and during the competition, with rumors that the players would boycott games. Those rumors never came to fruition.

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