Don’t give NFF money, Bio tells FIFA

Bio led a high-powered delegation which included NSC director-general Patrick Ekeji and former international Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha to meet with FIFA president Sepp Blatter Wednesday in Johannesburg.    The sports minister told Blatter that the government has already paid the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that sum and would prefer FIFA stay action on paying […]

Bio led a high-powered delegation which included NSC director-general Patrick Ekeji and former international Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha to meet with FIFA president Sepp Blatter Wednesday in Johannesburg.   

The sports minister told Blatter that the government has already paid the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that sum and would prefer FIFA stay action on paying the Nigeria FA their World Cup cash until further notice.   

However, Blatter turned down this request while also insisting that FIFA have given their blessings to the NFF polls slated for August in Abuja.   

An official told MTNFootball.com: “Blatter said FIFA will pay the NFF their World Cup earnings as and when due, while also telling the minister that he does not have the powers to stop the elections into the executive committee of the NFF fixed for August.”   

The National Sports Commission (NSC), which is headed by Bio, had on the eve of the World Cup kick-off ordered the NFF to suspend all electoral processes, but the Nigeria FA insisted on carrying on.   

FIFA have also been informed of this direct interference by government in the running of football in Nigeria and have subsequently warned that the country risk a ban should such meddling persists.