FIFA instructs to postpone FAM elections

FIFA has instructed to postpone the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) election scheduled for next month.

Acting General Secretary of FAM, Mohamed Jaushan Shareef, announced in a message to the media that the election had been put on hold in compliance with FIFA's directive.

He added that discussions were currently ongoing regarding the complaints filed with FIFA, as the agency seeks to clarify the issues related to these complaints.

"As part of this discussion, at the request of FIFA and AFC, we will put the election on hold," Jaushan said in a message to the FAM's media group.

"We assure FAM members and the public that the FAM secretariat will always protect the spirit of football and its governing principles and assure that FAM will extend full support to FIFA and the AFC in addressing these concerns."

This is FIFA's second instruction in connection to FAM's elections. FIFA directed to postpone the FAM election scheduled for January 31 because some of the election-related committees were not formed by the FAM.

After the Electoral Committee decided to cancel the candidacy of Ahmed Thorig, who had contested the election at the time, it was revealed that the association had not constituted these committees for a period of over four years. There was no committee in place in FAM for Thoriq to appeal the case.

FIFA had then instructed that the election process be postponed until these committees were formed. In February, FAM convened a congress and constituted these committees.

One of the reasons for FIFA's instruction to delay the election includes Club Valencia's claim that they were not invited to the congress, Jaushan said.

"FIFA has asked for details as Club Valencia claims that they were not invited to the congress. However, the invitation was extended to Valencia as well, and Abdulla Azmeen and Ilmaau Hussain were registered by the club to join the congress," Jaushan said.

He said that the details requested by FIFA would be sent. FIFA and AFC have also indicated that they will send a delegation to the Maldives to assess the current situation, he said.