The indefinite postponement of the Third South Asian Football Federation Championship scheduled for Dhaka, Bangladesh by Football's world governing body FIFA caught everyone off guard.

FIFA and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) also has barred Bangladesh from participating in international tournaments which includes official and friendly matches. FIFA came down heavily on Bangladesh after the deadline to reinstate the elected Bangladesh Football Federation (BFF) passed off.

It may be recalled that on the order of the new government of Prime Minister Zia, the elected body was replaced by an ad-hoc committee, thus violating the statutes of both FIFA and AFC.

Whether FIFA was right or wrong to impose a ban on Bangladesh is a subject to debate. What is true about FIFA is that they have not been consistent in handing out this kind of ban on those breaking the statutes. Surely law violators must never be left scot free, rather punished to safeguard the interest of the game.  The world knows contemporary sports whether on or off the field is smeared by stinking politics. The elements involved in the act are prepared to do anything to attain or exercise their vested interest.

Every sport buff agrees that sports must never live under the shadow of politics. Any kind of undesired meddling in sports for political purpose on the part of an individual or group should be snubbed and met with a firm hand.

 In the case of Bangladesh FIFA did the right thing but critics have been quick to catch FIFA and AFC by their tails, calling their action confusing and inconsistent. They have hammered both organisations for failing to put an end to the  All Nepal Football Association(ANFA) feud that has been lingering for almost two years.

Commenting on the subject Gopal Manandhar, sports enthusiast said, "Clearly  FIFA and AFC have no intentions to resolve the ANFA dispute because there is so much at stake for them in the upcoming election (Sepp Blatter eventually won in May 2002). They have recognized Thapa led ANFA who means so much to them despite the fact that the election held by him was a scam. On the other hand, they have continued to ignore the other ANFA (Rana) whose election was conducted democratically and contested by    more than 40 clubs across the country.

"These so called football governing bodies are making a laughing stock of themselves. Although they advocate the need for an elected body but in practice aren't. By throwing their weight around Thapa led ANFA, they have shown their true colors and their actions are colored by prejudice. If they can act like instant coffee in the case of Bangladesh, why have they let the ANFA wrangling go on this long.  FIFA   has to rise above their vested interest if they truly wish to change the landscape of South Asian football."

The last minute postponement of the region's biggest football spectacle was huge, huge disappointment at a time when the entire region was keenly looking forward to it. Canceling  or postponing a tourney of this magnitude was definitely not the solution and in the interest of South Asian football as it  further compounded the matter.

AFC should have looked for an alternative venue well in advance in order to get the competition rolling if change (venue) was inevitable. Obviously, it seemed nothing was done. Rather concerned officials engaged themselves in marathon discussions mostly revolving around their vested interest.

As long as FIFA and AFC   continue to exercise  biased policies, supporting their interest groups,  we cannot be  optimistic about the future of football in South Asia.