"The worst-run football association in the world"
FIFA was forced to intervene last year.
Artwork: Dosain
20 Jul, 3:35 PM
When a FIFA official calls your national body the "worst-run football association in the world," you know things have gone catastrophically wrong. After years of embezzlement, unpaid debts and sporting humiliation, world football's governing body appointed a "Normalisation Committee" to take over the Football Association of Maldives in August 2024.
FAM was saddled with outstanding debts of MVR 20 million (US$ 1.2 million) when FIFA finally intervened. Its president was on trial for money laundering. Staff were unpaid for months. Three years after winning the country's second regional championship, the Maldives national team was knocked out by Bangladesh.
Speaking on the Ithuru Vaahaka podcast last week, Ismail Ciman, a member of the Normalisation Committee, explained the gravity of the FAM crisis. As a final chance before suspension, the committee was tasked with investigating the financial mismanagement and alleged embezzlement of funds provided by FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).
"Our job is to audit the accounts, trace the missing money, formulate a plan to pay off the massive debts, and prepare the ground for a legitimate, transparent election," Ciman said.
Aside from Ciman, the three-member committee includes Ahmed Muizzu, a former prosecutor general, and Fareeha Shareef, the former Bank of Maldives chairwoman.
Financial disaster
Ciman highlighted concerns surrounding FAM misappropriating funds through unauthorised payments, personal financial transactions, and signing contracts that it could not afford.
Many of these allegations were already public knowledge. In October 2023, the Prosecutor General's Office announced that FAM was under investigation for misusing funds allocated by international bodies. These funds, intended to support football in the Maldives under strict regulations, had allegedly been used in violation of Maldivian law.
At the time, FAM staff had gone unpaid for more than six months. FIFA stepped in to ensure that the national team coaches were paid. Additionally, MVR 1.2 million in prize money donated by Champa Mohamed Moosa (Uchchu) to the national team in 2021, during the opening of a football pitch at Lhaviyani Kuredu, was reportedly redirected for other FAM purposes.
FAM is currently facing multiple lawsuits over unpaid debts, including:
MVR 93,750 owed to VEMCO
Two separate cases with ADK Hospital totalling over MVR 1.8 million
Apollo Holdings accepted land rights for 25 years in Uppsala in lieu of a MVR 13 million payment
MVR 370,153.92 owed to Bright Brothers
Over MVR 3.5 million owed to L Maldives across multiple transactions
More than MVR 2 million owed to Beehive Hotel
MVR 176,757.10 owed to Veligaa Hardware
MVR 152,082.93 owed to ADK Trade and Shipping
MVR 308,400 owed to Public Service Media
US$ 50,000 (equivalent to MVR 871,000) owed to MS Finance Currency Exchange
In addition, in mid-2023, a hotel in Bangladesh complained about FAM's failure to pay US$ 19,651.38 incurred during the national team’s participation in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
Decline
FAM's organisation of the 2023/24 Dhivehi Premier League was plagued with disruptions. The league was initially divided into four qualifying zones. However, after completing matches in the First Zone, the tournament was abruptly halted and it never resumed.
In the South Zone, matches were scheduled to begin with sponsorship secured from the State Trading Organisation. But the funds provided for the South League were used for other expenses and were never reimbursed.
Only six teams ended up participating in the Dhivehi Premier League. Clubs such as Valencia and Green Streets were excluded from the competition.
On the national stage, 2023 marked a disastrous year for Maldivian football. The national team was eliminated in the group stage of the SAFF Championship held in India during June and July.
Further embarrassment followed when the Maldives was knocked out of the World Cup qualifiers by Bangladesh. The team drew the first leg at home and lost the second leg in Dhaka. It was the first time the two-time regional champions exited in the earliest stages of qualification since 2007.
Political connections
Former FAM president Bassam Adheel Jaleel attributed the collapse of operations to the Covid-19 pandemic and a lack of state funding. In 2019, the government discontinued the annual MVR 3 million it had been providing to football clubs through state-owned companies.
Bassam, the grand-nephew of former president Abdulla Yameen, became FAM president in November 2016. At the time, he was a close associate of then-vice president Ahmed Adeeb, the chief architect of the MMPRC corruption scandal. Bassam himself appeared on a list of recipients of stolen funds. But he claimed the funds were part of a currency exchange transaction.
"I assure the football community that I have not engaged in any fraud. Nothing of the sort has happened before, and it won't happen in the future," Bassam declared on the Sports File programme in May 2021.
Bassam also enjoyed political protection from then-sports minister Ahmed Mahloof, who faced similar "dollar transaction" charges related to MMPRC, which were later dropped. Meanwhile, in 2021, FAM established a media partner contract with Adhadhu, a news outlet with known ties to then-president Ibrahim Mohamed Solih's administration.
The FAM's disputes also became entangled in the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party's internal power struggles. Lawmakers aligned with former president Mohamed Nasheed's faction, led by MP Ali Azim, FAM's president from 2008-2013, called for urgent action to clean up FAM. They submitted resolutions and emergency motions to parliament demanding government intervention.
However, Solih and his sports minister opposed direct action, warning that any government interference could trigger FIFA sanctions and lead to the suspension of Maldivian football.
While the government stood by, FAM's financial collapse accelerated. Under Solih's watch, Maldivian football deteriorated to the point where FIFA had to intervene and try to salvage what was left of the hollowed-out FAM shell.
Criminal charges
In December 2023, police raided FAM headquarters on the Prosecutor General's orders, confiscating documents, hard drives, and server backups. Bassam's passport was seized soon thereafter. In February 2024, he was formally charged with embezzlement and money laundering.
One charge involves the misappropriation of a US$ 10,000 grant from FIFA. The funds had been deposited into FAM's account at the Bank of Ceylon but later transferred (after banking fees) to Bassam's personal account at the Bank of Maldives. Of the US$ 9,999 that remained, approximately US$ 1,910 was redirected to a third party. The rest was ultimately deposited into the account of Glacier Investment, a company owned by Bassam and his wife. This money was then used to pay rent for their apartment at Rehendhi Flats.
The Prosecutor General is seeking to recover the full US$ 10,000. The charges carry a sentence of up to 15 years in prison along with fines ranging from US$ 10,000 to US$ 1 million.
Another investigation is ongoing into a US$ 1.9 million interest-free loan from FIFA, most of which was allegedly used to cover personal expenses.
New elections
Despite the deepening crisis, Ciman confirmed that elections for new FAM leadership have been announced. It is scheduled for next Saturday (July 26). Candidacy papers have already been filed. MP Ahmed Thoriq, a ruling party lawmaker who previously served as FAM president in 2016, is the one and only contender.
Where Maldivian football goes from here remains uncertain.
"The real work begins here, the new ex-co must keep to proper procedures and standards, while the clubs, players, supporters and the football community as a whole must keep the ex-co in check!" Ciman said.
By Saif Fathih
Saif Fathih is a columnist at the Maldives Independent and a serving member of the Malé City Council for Galolhu North. With his educational background in communications, international studies and public policy, he previously worked as a journalist, editor and public policy advisor, with roles including senior policy director at the ministry of national planning and editor of Ocean Weekly Magazine. Saif began his career as a radio producer and presenter at Minivan Radio, writer for Minivan Daily, and translator for the British High Commission and the European Union Mission to Sri Lanka and the Maldives. He is also the host of Ithuru Vaahaka, the Maldives Independent podcast.
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