The Players' Status Chamber of FIFA's Football Tribunal has ruled against Technical Director of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) Paul Thomas Smalley in his case to acquire USD 1.2 million from FAM and have ruled in favor of FAM instead.

Englishman Smalley was appointed to the post of Technical Director nearing the end of former FAM President Bassam Adeel Jaleel's term with a salary of USD 20,000.

Smalley came to Maldives after resigning from his Technical Director position in Bangladesh. The experienced professional was fruitful in his efforts in Bangladesh, and was being given a salary of USD 15,000 from Bangladesh's Football Federation.

Smalley was appointed to the Technical Director role in Maldives in July 2023 but spent around four months abroad due to a lack of work.

He signed an agreement with FAM for a five-year period. However, he resigned from his post after one year. The acting General Secretary of FAM at the time, Mohamed Jaushan Shareef said back then that Smalley left Maldives after his agreement had expired.

According to Jaushan at the time, Smalley signed a yearly agreement with the Qatar Football Association where he would be paid by them.

Smalley submitted a case against FAM in the middle of 2025, demanding a salary payment worth five years, with it being USD 1.2 million (MVR 18.5 million).

As per FAM's statement that was publicized on Tuesday, FIFA's chambers had ruled in favor of FAM.

FAM described this ruling as a major victory to the history of financial interests in Maldivian football.