Nigeria will not be scared by the world football governing body FIFA.
The Minister told Kwesé ESPN that since Nigeria is a sovereign state,
they will not bow to pressures from FIFA.
Earlier in the week FIFA issued Nigeria with an ultimatum stating that
they have until 20th August to restore and recognise Amaju Pinnick as
the legitimate president of the NFF, or face a ban.
"FIFA will not scare us. We are a big country and FIFA must learn to
listen to a country that is investing a lot of money in football
development," Dalung told KweséESPN at the Seninde Foundation Women's
Football tournament hosted at the Philip Omondi Stadium, Lugogo, where
he was a guest.
"There is a misconception of the entire situation. FIFA is an
international organisation. Nigeria is a country and a defined
sovereign state which is affiliated to FIFA. We have a crisis in the
football leadership and the crisis went to the courts and the supreme
courts decided. So, what is FIFA talking about? And yet they also
don't want to meet us," said Dalung.
Dalung was adamant that FIFA had been fed with incorrect information
and he stressed that FIFA should treat national governing bodies in
Africa with more respect.
"FIFA cannot be right. They have not even appreciated what is on the
ground. Football is funded in Africa by governments which build the
infrastructure and pump in money. FIFA must therefore learn to treat
the government partners with respect," added Dalung in his interview
with KweséESPN.
"We wrote them a letter seeking [a platform to] discuss about the
crisis in Nigerian football. But, we received a letter on Thursday
saying that they are not willing to meet with the Nigerian delegation.
That is the best we have done to engage with them and discuss the
crisis.
"They have decided to take sides and stand by what they think," added
the Sports Minister.
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