FAM seeks FIFA guidance as President’s term nears expiration
The Football Association of Maldives (FAM) has sought FIFA’s advice on how to proceed as FAM President Bassam Adeel Jaleel’s term nears expiration.
Bassam, currently serving his second term as the president of FAM, will see his term expire on July 2.
The FAM, which was in the midst of an election process, halted the proceedings twice on FIFA’s instructions. Both attempts to hold the election were stopped by FAM, with the second interruption specifically directed to stay the election process.
According to the FAM Constitution, a period of 45 days is required between announcing and holding an election. While Bassam’s term expires in 26 days, the timeframe is no longer available to announce a new election.
FAM’s Acting General Secretary Mohamed Jaushan Shareef said the matter has been brought to FIFA’s attention. So far, FAM has not been informed of any specific action by FIFA, he said.
It is not only the FAM leadership that is waiting for FIFA’s response. Clubs and agencies are also awaiting FIFA’s decision, particularly clubs in conflict with Bassam’s administration.
In April, a FIFA delegation sent to assess the football situation in the Maldives met with clubs excluded from the FAM congress held in February. The clubs requested the delegation, which consisted of officials from FIFA and AFC, to normalize the FAM to resolve issues and move towards new elections.
“These clubs believe that it is in the best interest of [Maldivian] football and the clubs to normalize the FAM. The normalization committee will resolve the issues and move to new elections,” said an official who attended the meeting with the FIFA delegation.
The FIFA delegation also met Sports Minister Abdullah Rafiu and Sports Commissioner Mohamed Tholal. The Sports Ministry and the Sports Commissioner’s Office are prepared to proceed with FIFA’s decision. At a recent press conference, Sports Commissioner Mohamed Tholal mentioned that the government assured the FIFA delegation of its cooperation and shared necessary information about FAM.
“Similarly, we got information from them [the FIFA delegation] as well,” Tholal said.
Tholal said the FAM proceedings have been paused as FIFA and AFC are looking into the issues and had promised to share their decision soon.
While FIFA has yet to decide on FAM’s leadership, it has already taken some measures against FAM, including withholding the FIFA development fund this year. The financial strain has led to complaints about unpaid salaries for FAM employees from time to time, and delayed payments to clubs. The association is also entangled in several corruption cases.
