AFC waives $253,030 repayment owed by Maldives football body

(File Photo/FAM) FIFA separately imposed a lifetime ban on Bassam earlier this month from taking part in any football-related activity and fined him CHF 1 million. An FAM official said the AFC Executive Committee decided on Friday to waive the repayment and lift restrictions that had prevented the association from applying for AFC financial assistance.

The current FAM administration, led by former national team forward and former Mahibadhoo MP Ahmed Thoriq, known as Tom, had requested the AFC to waive the repayment and restore the association's eligibility for financial assistance. According to the FAM official, the AFC Executive Committee approved both requests.

The decision means FAM will be able to apply for AFC financial assistance from next year. The Maldives lost access to AFC financial assistance in 2024.

The AFC's financial assistance programmes provide funding to member associations for football administration, operations and development. The AFC also requires member associations receiving such funding to comply with reporting, auditing and governance requirements.

Financial irregularities at FAM during Bassam's tenure were also identified in audits and subsequently became the subject of criminal and football disciplinary proceedings. Bassam is currently serving a 32-year prison sentence after being convicted in two cases involving the use of FAM funds for personal purposes.

FIFA separately imposed a lifetime ban on Bassam earlier this month from taking part in any football-related activity and fined him CHF 1 million. FIFA said the sanction concerned the misuse of funds from its COVID-19 Relief Plan for his personal benefit.

FIFA had previously provisionally suspended Bassam in June 2024 after its Ethics Committee opened proceedings following investigations in the Maldives into allegations involving the use of FIFA funds by FAM officials.