The FIFA Emergency Committee justified its decision by listing the following government interferences: court actions against elected members of the NFF Executive Committee preventing them from exercising their functions and duties, the stepping down of the acting NFF General Secretary on the instructions of the National Sports Commission, the decision of the Minister of Sports to have the Nigerian League start without relegation from the previous season, and the fact that the NFF Executive Committee cannot work properly due to this interference.
Nigeria’s government reacted to the country’s performance at this year’s World Cup by banning the team from international competition for two years. It then made a U-turn over the ban under pressure from FIFA.
The FIFA action means the country's national team will not be able to participate in qualifying for the Africa Nations Cup until the matter is resolved. FIFA said the suspension will be maintained until the court actions have ceased and the duly elected NFF Executive Committee is able to work without any interference.
