Football Association of Maldives (FAM) has officially recognized tournaments organized by Club Maldives as the country’s premier futsal competitions.
Speaking after a signing ceremony held at the VIP Hall of the National Football Stadium on Thursday evening, FAM president Ahmed Thoriq (Tom) said the association’s executive committee had decided to designate Club Maldives’ men’s and women’s tournaments as officially recognized futsal competitions.
Thoriq said this year’s FAM Awards, returning after a hiatus, will include a new category recognizing the best futsal player in the Maldives.
According to him, players will be evaluated based on performances in upcoming Club Maldives tournaments.
FAM has also announced an Atoll Futsal Championship, which will follow a structure similar to the existing Atoll Championship futsal competition.
Teams performing in this year’s atoll tournament will qualify for the country’s main futsal league, scheduled to begin next year. Thoriq said the number of qualifying teams would be decided later.
“It is the top-tier futsal tournament in the Maldives,” he said.
“We will announce the rules and procedures later.”
He added that the futsal league would transition to a league format after two years, with teams from regional Club Maldives leagues eventually joining the competition structure.
Club Maldives president Moosa Rameez said the organization's role was to support the development of futsal in line with FAM regulations.
“We are not policy makers. Policy will be set by FAM,” Rameez said. “Our main goal is to help promote a structured approach to futsal in the Maldives in accordance with FAM guidelines.”
Club Maldives has scheduled seven futsal events for this year’s season. The first tournament, the Kings Cup, will run from next Friday until 17 August.
The women’s season will begin with the “18-30 Classic” tournament on 17 May, while a special “Kidsal” event for children is also planned.
Other competitions scheduled for the season include the “18-30”, “Classic”, “Club Maldives Cup” and “Sector League” tournaments.
FAM’s approved budget for this year includes MVR 1.8 million for the Atoll Futsal Championship, MVR 324,500 for the futsal league and MVR 245,750 for the women’s futsal league.
