FIFA Suspends Bassam for Nine Months

Bassam Adeel Jaleel, President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), has been suspended for nine months by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).

In a statement on Thursday, FIFA announced that Bassam is barred from participating in any football-related activities at both national and international levels for the duration of the suspension. The decision was made by the chairperson of FIFA’s adjudicatory chamber of the independent Ethics Committee, in accordance with Article 86 of the FIFA Code of Ethics (FCE).

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The suspension follows an investigation initiated by the investigatory chamber into allegations of money laundering, embezzlement, corruption, and other criminal offences involving the misuse of FIFA funds by FAM officials. This action is connected to proceedings initiated by the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Maldives, which began after a search of the FAM House on 22 October 2023.

PG Office said in January that it was filing charges against Bassam, comprising one count of embezzlement and one count of money laundering.

“Based on the information and documentation gathered during the preliminary stage of the investigation, the chairperson of the investigatory chamber found a prima facie case under Article 62, paragraph 1 of the FCE,” FIFA stated.

FIFA has also opened formal investigations against Bassam over potential violations of its code of ethics articles relating to general duties, conflicts of interest, offering and accepting gifts and other benefits, as well as misappropriation and misuse of funds.

Bassam was notified of his suspension on Thursday, FIFA added.