FIFA decides to appoint normalisation committee for FAM

FIFA has decided to handover the management of Football Association of Maldives (FAM) to a normalisation committee on the basis of article 8 paragraph 2 of the FIFA Statutes after the fate of the association was in limbo following the expiry of the executive committee (EXCO)'s term.

The duration of this normalisation committee's term will be one year, but FIFA said that the term will end early if the committee's responsibilities are fulfilled. According to FIFA's instructions, the committee would need to complete all of its tasks by 31 July, 2025.

While the normalisation committee is set to take over, FAM's EXCO served their last day on 2 July. They left FAM riddled with multiple accusations, and former president of the association Bassam Adeel Jaleel stands charged with various counts of fraud and misappropriation of funds.

In light of the situation, FIFA's independent ethics committee has also suspended Bassam for a total of nine months.

According to FIFA's statement on its website, "the decision was taken following consultations with the AFC and in order to address the dire governance and financial crisis faced by FAM."

However, FIFA has not announced who will be on the normalisation committee yet.

According to Mihaaru News, FIFA has gathered the resumés of former senior members of the Maldivian football scene.

A local football expert with international experience in the sport spoke with Mihaaru News and said that the first step is for FIFA to decide to appoint a normalisation committee in such cases.

"A committee will not be put together immediately after deciding to handover to a normalisation committee. FIFA [has now] made the first stage decision. Next, they will evaluate and then form the committee," they said.

Another senior figure in the local football scene told Mihaaru that the normalisation committee will have three main responsibilities. They are, amending and approving the association's governing regulations, host an independent election in line with the regulations, and carry out any other tasks assigned by FIFA.

Along with Maldives, FIFA also decided to appoint a normalisation committee for the Tunisian Football Association (FTF).

"In both cases, the normalisation committees will consist of a suitable number of members, who will be appointed jointly by FIFA and the respective confederation. All members will be subject to an eligibility check to be carried out by the FIFA Review Committee in accordance with the FIFA Governance Regulations," FIFA said in its statement.