(FIFA) - The FIFA Emergency
Committee has decided today, 9
July 2014, to suspend the Nigeria
Football Federation (NFF) with
immediate effect, on account of
government interference. Article 13, par. 1 and article 17, par. 1 of
the FIFA Statutes oblige member
associations to manage their affairs
independently and with no
influence from third parties.

The decision follows a letter sent by
FIFA to the NFF on 4 July 2014, in
which it expressed its great
concern after the NFF was served
with court proceedings and
consequently an order preventing the president of the NFF, the NFF
Executive Committee members and
the NFF Congress from running the
affairs of Nigerian football was
granted by a High Court of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The said court order compelled the
Nigerian Minister of Sports to
appoint a senior member of the
civil service to manage the NFF until
the matter was heard in court,
without giving any date for such a hearing. The authorities then
appointed a person who decided to
convene an extraordinary general
assembly on 5 July 2014. This
extraordinary general assembly
was convened in violation of the NFF statutes.

Originally, an elective congress had
been planned by the NFF to take
place on 26 August 2014.

The suspension will be lifted once
the court actions have been
withdrawn and the properly
elected NFF Executive Committee,
the NFF general assembly and the
NFF administration are able to work without any interference in their
affairs.

As a result of this decision, no team
from Nigeria of any sort (including
clubs) can have any international
sporting contact (art. 14 par. 3 of
the FIFA Statutes). During the period
of suspension, the NFF may not be represented in any regional,
continental or international
competitions, including at club
level, or in friendly matches. The
most immediate effect is that
Nigeria will not be entitled to participate in the upcoming FIFA
U-20 Women's World Cup (5-24
August 2014) should the
suspension not be lifted by 15 July
2014.

In addition, neither the NFF nor any
of its members or officials may
benefit from any FIFA or CAF
development programmes, courses
or training during the suspension
period.