An emergency committee of FIFA has placed a suspension on Nigeria due to recent government interference in the administration of the Nigeria Football Federation according to a statement from the world football governing body.

According to the statement, the suspension comes as a result of the violation of ”Article 13, par. 1 and article 17, par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes which oblige member associations to manage their affairs independently and with no influence from third parties.”

The development comes after a warning from FIFA for a recent court injunction against the NFF to be withdrawn and for the ousted executive committee of the NFF; including president Aminu Maigari, to be reinstated was not adhered to.

Nigeria sports officials had held a meeting with FIFA officials in Zurich today to reach a compromise over the situation at the NFF and avoid a ban but the meeting has proved fruitless in light of FIFA’s statement.

The FIFA statement also stated that ”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 suspension therefore jeopardises Nigeria’s participation at the upcoming FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Canada, as Maigari and the NFF executive must be reinstated and the court injunction withdrawn before July 15 or the Falconets would be thrown out of the tournament holding kicking off on August 5.

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