FAM settles USD 75,000 owed to SAFF

Football Association of Maldives (FAM) has settled the USD 75,000 (MVR 1.16 million) in prize money owed to the champion and runner-up teams of the 2021 SAFF Championship hosted in the Maldives.

During the tenure of the FAM's former President, Bassam Adeel Jaleel, who is currently jailed on charges of embezzling FAM funds, the prize money was not paid, causing a major issue last year. The champion, India, was owed USD 50,000, and the runner-up, Nepal, was owed USD 25,000.

At a South Asian Football Confederation (SAFF) Executive Committee meeting last year, member nations raised the issue, leading to a heated session. The matter had also come to the attention of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

FAM General Secretary Ahmed Zareer told Mihaaru News that the association is actively working to pay off its debts, and the prize money settlement was part of that effort.

It is believed that the non-payment of this money had severely damaged the relationship between FAM and SAFF.

"We are working to repair those relationships," Zareer stated.

FAM was heavily indebted and near bankruptcy during Bassam's tenure but was saved by FIFA. FIFA appointed a Normalization Committee to oversee financial transactions, establish a new constitution, and hold an election. The current President, Ahmed Thoriq (Tom), and the Executive Committee took over FAM after winning that election.

FIFA continues to assist FAM in settling its debts, and FAM is also working to restructure some debts based on FIFA's advice.