The Civil Court of Maldives has ordered the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) to submit payments amounting to USD 3.4 million, to a South Korean company.
On the order given by the Civil Court on September 28, it stated that the FAM entered an agreement with the South Korean company on March 20, 2021. The payment of USD 3,372,243 is to cover the costs associated with the development of football fields in Vilimale' and Hulhumale', reconstruction work in Hulhumale', modifications requested by FAM, and administrative expenses incurred during the case. FAM is required to complete these payments by the end of this month.
While several financial problems of FAM have been surfacing, the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) has handed over the management of FAM to the Normalising Committee in August. Additionally, Former President of the FAM Bassam Adeel Jaleel, has been ordered by the court to relinquish two flats he acquired on Amin Avenue in Hulhumale’ to the Maldives Police Service (MPS). It has been confirmed that Bassam used funds provided by FIFA as aid for Maldivian football clubs during the COVID-19 pandemic to finance the apartment purchases. Therefore, the court has mandated Bassam to handover the two apartments before October 6.
Police allege that Bassam utilized FAM funds amounting to USD 200,789.80 to acquire the two apartments on Amin Avenue. Notably, FIFA has previously suspended Bassam for nine months due to allegations of misuse of FIFA funds.