Abdullah Almutairi has again announced to step down from his coaching role for the Nepali national football team. He announced his resignation from social media on Sunday.
“After 525 days in the service of Nepalese football, I announce the end of my tenure as coach of the Nepal national team,” Almutairi said in his social media post.
“Thank You to everyone who supported me on this journey that was not without moments of joy, love sadness and pain,” read his post.
His announcement came a day after All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) President Pankaj Nembang held a meeting with Qatar Football Association (QFA) President Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al-Thani in Doha on Saturday. Almuitari was appointed Nepal’s head coach with the assistance of QFA on April 2021.
ANFA also confirmed his resignation. ANFA Spokesperson Suresh Shah said that Almutairi had informed General Secretary regarding the termination of the contract via email. “Almutairi has informed that he terminated the contract between him and Qatar FA. ANFA has understood it as a resignation.”
He was on three months’ vacation after looking after Nepal in AFC Asian Cup 2023 Group A Qualifiers in Kuwait.
It is not the first time he has announced his resignation. Previously, he announced to quit more than three times through social media posts. Almuitairi, however, has been managing to stay with his job.
The tenure of Kuwaiti Coach Almuitari, who led Nepal to the SAFF Championship final after 28 years, has been filled with controversies. He also led Nepal to the third round of Asian Qualifiers.
After taking Nepal to the SAFF Championship final in October 2021, Almuitari announced to quit. Being displeased with some media reports and spat with ANFA officials, he revealed his resignation. But he backtracked from it.
The last controversy he was involved when the senior footballers left the closed camp of Asian Cup Qualifiers disagreeing with his working style. Ten senior players, who left the camp, accused him of being a dictatorship.
A probe committee formed to find out about players leaving the camp also recommended finding alternatives to AFC Pro licenced Kuwaiti Coach.
After Asian Cup Qualifiers were held in Kuwait, Almutairi has taken three months’ vacation from his job.
ANFA was not in a position to independently terminate the contract signed with him as he was sent by Qatar under a grant signed between two football associations.
Nevertheless, the newly elected ANFA central committee had directed to solve the issue by coordinating with Almutairi and Qatar FA.
ANFA already had appointed Acting Coach Pradeep Humagain for the friendly match against Bangladesh.
