FIFA Normalisation Committee: Gombe FA Chief Backs Move, Jalla Says Stakeholders Wanted It

Gombe FA chairman Yakubu Sarma blames poor crisis management for FIFA’s intervention, calls for sweeping NFF reforms as reform advocate Harrison Jalla says most stakeholder groups favoured normalisation.

Gombe State Football Association chairman Yakubu Sarma has backed FIFA’s decision to appoint a normalisation committee to oversee Nigerian football until 31 May 2027, but insists that the intervention must go beyond leadership changes to address deep-rooted structural problems in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Sarma’s position comes amid differing views among football stakeholders on the world governing body’s intervention, with Harrison Jalla, chairman of the Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Concept, claiming that most stakeholder groups consulted by FIFA supported the establishment of a normalisation committee.

The appointment follows the prolonged leadership crisis in the NFF, which intensified after the departure of former president Ibrahim Gusau and other federation officials, leaving Nigerian football administrators divided over the best way to restore stability.

Speaking in an interview, Sarma described FIFA’s intervention as an indication of the failure to resolve the dispute through domestic mechanisms, warning that the prolonged administrative vacuum could have serious consequences for Nigerian football.

“It is really unfortunate that we find ourselves in this administrative vacuum. It is now deteriorating and dragging on. Something that, if not managed well, will create so many problems for Nigeria,” he said.

The Gombe FA chairman argued that the crisis could have been resolved earlier through home-grown solutions if the parties involved had managed the situation more effectively.

He said stakeholders had anticipated the possibility of a normalisation committee because caretaker or interim arrangements were not considered viable under FIFA and Confederation of African Football (CAF) statutes in the circumstances.

“What we agitated for was home-grown modalities for resolving the leadership vacuum. But with the NSC going to FIFA and some maladministration issues that followed, it became impossible, prompting FIFA to intervene,” Sarma said.

Despite his reservations about how the situation developed, he said the state football associations would respect FIFA’s decision and support the committee in carrying out its mandate.

He, however, stressed that the intervention must not undermine the NFF Congress, which remains central to the federation’s governance structure.

“One thing is sacrosanct: the normalisation committee will not sideline the Congress, and the Congress will ensure football wins,” he said.

Sarma demands comprehensive NFF reforms

Beyond resolving the leadership crisis, Sarma called for far-reaching reforms of the NFF, arguing that replacing individuals without addressing institutional weaknesses would only create the conditions for another crisis.

He maintained that competence should take precedence over regional considerations in determining who leads Nigerian football.

“For me, competence should always be at the centre of all arguments. Once you have somebody who has the capacity, he has everything it takes to steer the NFF to where we want it to be. It does not matter whether he is from the South or the North,” he said.

Sarma cited successive leadership changes involving former NFF presidents, including Aminu Maigari, Amaju Pinnick and Gusau, as evidence that changes at the top had not eliminated the recurring instability within the federation.

He questioned whether the reform process would address the NFF’s funding structure, legal framework and internal administration, rather than focus exclusively on leadership changes.

“No single FA chairman is against reform. The only problem we have with the reform is: who are we reforming, and how do we intend to do the reform?” he asked.

He warned that without a stronger institutional foundation, any change in leadership would provide only temporary relief.

“The foundation of the NFF, as it is now, is faulty, unless we put a stronger structure in place that can stand the test of time. Even if we change the leadership now in the name of reform, it will not last,” Sarma said.

Jalla: Most stakeholder groups backed FIFA intervention

Meanwhile, Jalla said the normalisation committee option received support from most stakeholder groups during consultations with FIFA, although the state FA chairmen favoured a different approach.

“Almost all the five federating units rooted for a normalisation committee except the FA chairmen. The players’ bloc, the coaches and referees particularly spoke with one voice at the meeting with FIFA. That is the appropriate measure to adopt to move Nigerian football forward,” he said.

Jalla’s remarks underline the divisions among stakeholders over how to resolve the crisis, with reform advocates favouring FIFA-supervised administration while state FA chairmen have argued for a solution driven by existing domestic football structures.

The normalisation committee is expected to oversee the NFF’s affairs until 31 May 2027, with its intervention presenting an opportunity to restore administrative stability and address the governance concerns that have dogged Nigerian football.

The success of the process will depend on how effectively the committee balances its mandate with the role of the football Congress and whether it can deliver reforms capable of preventing another leadership crisis.