Saturday's congress was marred by political divisions that have long plagued FAM's internal dynamics. Six clubs boycotted the meeting – notably supporters of former Executive Committee member Mufaviz Hashim who had previously contested leadership positions. The conduct of FIFA delegate Ahmed Harraz has drawn particular scrutiny over allegations of attempting to manipulate the congress quorum by questioning the legitimacy of certain participating clubs. The incident highlights the complex power struggles between the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee, international football governing bodies, and the various factions within the Maldivian football community that remain aligned with different leadership candidates from the turbulent pre-intervention period.

The following statement was written by former lawmaker Hamid Abdul Ghafoor, who represents a group of football officials and media advocating under the slogan #SaveFAM on social media. The group hopes to revive the Dhivehi Premier League under a home and away format played among the best 8 Zone Champions.

The statement was released is in response to the March 15 congress, which the group contends was illegitimate due to the voting delegates representing a single Zone after the exclusion of all other Zones, which makes up the electoral college of clubs who qualify from respective Regional Associations to form the national Dhivehi League. Two Zone clubs have submitted a complaint of discrimination.

It is common knowledge that key association staff, who the FIFA Normalisation Committee inherited by default, is infested with individuals complicit in alleged corruption and money laundering, reported by local media to the tune of MVR 150 million (US$ 9.7  million). 

The FIFA/AFC Officials who visited Maldives to observe the FAM Extraordinary Congress appear to have colluded with these former staff to blindside the football community and media at large as to how the statutes in force were misrepresented in the composition of voting delegates at this congress. The legitimacy of all voting delegates is in question.

Articles 10, 18 and 22 of the FAM Statutes adopted on May 7, 2016 require voting delegates to be represented by all Zones and their clubs. Despite this requirement, the voting delegates invited to this congress were exclusively from a single Zone. The other Zones and their clubs were not invited.

This is discrimination. Clubs from two of the nine zones submitted their complaints of discrimination to the Normalisation Committee, copied to the Commissioner of Sports, FIFA and the AFC. 

FC Afirin from Maradhoo-Feydhoo in Zone 8 and Hiriyaa, a Lhaviani Hinnavaru club from Zone 3, submitted complaints. These clubs have, however, not received a response from the Normalisation Committee, Commissioner of Sports or the FIFA and AFC.

Article 3 of the FAM Statutes elaborate that discrimination is a serious offence punishable by suspension.

The Extraordinary Congress was concluded on Saturday night, after all items on the agenda were resolved by voting delegates. These voting delegates are, however, not legitimate. 

The congress was chaired by the FIFA Normalisation Committee chief Ahmed Muizz, who had to justify a quorum under Article 24.4 of the FAM Statutes, after five clubs boycotted the congress.

Representatives of the #SaveFAM lobby group visited the FAM on Sunday and requested the list of voting delegates from “interim” Secretary General Mohamed Sujau. The Secretary General refused to divulge the list. The Secretary General also refused to divulge the copy of the FAM Statues under which the congress was held.  

The #SaveFAM lobby group is now seeking legal recourse to take this case to court.

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