FIFA meeting: Jalla shuns NFF directives, insists players union to attend with 6-member delegation

FIFA meeting: Jalla shuns NFF directives, insists players union to attend with 6-member delegation

Chairman, Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Initiative, Prince Harrison Jalla has insisted that the Players Union bloc would attend the FIFA meeting slated for Sunday September 14, 2026 in Abuja with six members, same as allocated to the State Football Association chairmen.

He accused the NFF of laying a foundation for another structural imbalance from the beginning of a new era, and this is unacceptable.

"In their letter of invite dated 9th September for the FIFA 14th September meeting, they allocated six slots to the State Football Association chairmen, while the Players Union bloc was allocated three slots. This is an anomaly that should be corrected.

"We can’t rebuild our football on a faulty foundation. The F.A. chairmen cannot outnumber the Players Union bloc in the new dispensation, whether in meetings, reconstitution of the Congress, standing committees," he insists.

Jalla said it is not the duty of the NFF to pick and choose those to represent the federating units, saying "that is the responsibility of the members themselves, who know those that can best represent their interests."

"The FIFA 7th September letter was clear and unambiguous: they want to meet with the statutory members of the NFF. It’s unfair to manipulate and skew attendance in favour of one group to outnumber the other. Representations must be equal.

"We advise the NFF to jettison old tricks and start the rebuilding and transition process in a fair, just and transparent manner.

"The NFF 2010 Statutes, as amended, is very clear on the status of its five federating units as being equal," he submitted.