by China Acheru

World football ruling body, FIFA have received a deadline of noon on Tuesday, Swiss time to respond to a letter written to them by the Court of Arbitration for Sports, CAS.

A person who should know, said that the Chris Giwa led faction in the Nigerian football crisis petitioned CAS in what they termed FIFA interference in an internal Federation matter.

“I can confirm to you that we petitioned CAS on Friday and they in turn wrote to FIFA yesterday giving them until noon Swiss time to respond.”

It is also understood that the Court of Arbitration for Sports have also written to the Confederation of African Football, CAF and the South African Football Association, SAFA to ensure Wednesday’s AFCON 2015 qualifier holds without hitches.

Asked why the letter to FIFA was not available to the press, the source said, “We are not under any obligation to make the letter public. CAS write to FIFA and copied us as the plaintiffs so its our prerogative what we do with our copy as showing it to the press would be akin to playing to the gallery.”

FIFA had last week written to warn Chris Giwa and his group to vacate the NFF Secretariat and allow the General Secretary, Musa Amadu work without hindrance.

A deadline of 8 am Monday was given and as expected, Amadu settled into the office while nobody from the Giwa faction turned up at the NFF Secretariat.

The Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) is said to have in the letter ordered status quo ante in the NFF leadership tussle pending determination of the case filed by Obinna Ogba, Yahaya Adams and five other state Football Association chairmen.

They had petitioned that FIFA was unduly interfering in the internal running of football in Nigeria.

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A version of this story first appeared on China’s website

YEditor