FAM Sets July 26 for Elections as Congress Approves Major Reforms

The Football Association of Maldives (FAM) has officially scheduled its next election for July 26, following the approval of the new electoral code and sweeping governance reforms during its ordinary congress held Friday evening at The Meeruma Events Hall in Malé.

This marks the first general congress since FIFA handed over FAM’s operations to the Normalization Committee, appointed to restructure the organisation after repeated internal disputes and governance failures.

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New Electoral Framework in Place

The Congress unanimously passed a series of amendments to the foundational statutes of FAM. One of the major decisions was to classify all first and second division clubs as full members of the association, a move intended to broaden representation and participation in key decisions. Under the new election guidelines, any candidate must submit support letters from at least five clubs, with at least two endorsements coming from first-division clubs. The nomination deadline has been set for July 6, with the official announcement of the election scheduled for today.

The elections must be completed before the end of the one-year term of the Normalization Committee, in accordance with FIFA’s directive to restore an elected governing body for FAM.

Campaigning Begins Ahead of Election

The only candidate to publicly declare intent to run so far is Ahmed Thariq (Tom), a former FAM president and current MP for Mahibadhoo constituency. Thariq, a former national team player, has contested for the presidency twice previously—both attempts were halted mid-process due to FIFA interventions, citing electoral irregularities and the need for reform.

New Rules Emphasise Governance, Women’s Football, and Transparency

The amended FAM charter introduces a series of progressive governance measures:

• Mandatory financial disclosures, including publication of audit reports and details on salaries and allowances of the governing body.
• A ban on large cash transactions or contracts without oversight committee approval.
• Requirement to appoint at least two female representatives to the executive committee.
• Mandatory formation of a framework for women’s football tournaments within one year of the committee taking office.
• Empowerment of the governing body to organise regional tournaments, and the identification and structuring of regional associations as per government regulations.

FAM Corruption Scandal Still Lingers

While reforms aim to rebuild trust, FAM’s image continues to be tainted by the legacy of former president Bassam Adeel Jaleel, who was suspended amid serious corruption allegations. The former president has been under investigation for misappropriation of funds and abuse of power during his tenure. Reports surfaced in 2023 detailing misuse of FAM resources, lack of financial transparency, and unapproved foreign transactions under Bassam’s leadership. These revelations prompted FIFA’s decision to dissolve FAM’s executive committee and install a Normalization Committee.