FIFA’s Independent Ethics Committee has banned former Football Association of Maldives (FAM) President Bassam Adeel Jaleel from all football-related activities for life and fined him one million Swiss francs (MVR18.9 million).

In a statement issued last night, the committee said Bassam had used FIFA funds provided to the FAM as Covid-19 assistance for personal purposes.

The committee also banned Ahmed Agil, who was FAM’s administrative and financial chief at the time, from all football-related activities for 10 years and fined him 100,000 Swiss francs (MVR1.9 million).

According to FIFA, Agil was found guilty of facilitating the misappropriation of FIFA funds, concealing the misuse, using false documents and failing to cooperate with the FIFA Ethics Committee.

Bassam is currently serving a 23-year prison sentence after being convicted of embezzling FIFA’s Covid-19 funds. He had previously been convicted of fraud and sentenced to nine years in prison. He is currently under house arrest on health grounds.

Agil is not currently facing trial in the case. He was arrested in Thailand in January after fleeing the Maldives and has since been brought back to the country.

FIFA temporarily suspended Bassam when it began investigating the case, and he subsequently lost his position as FAM President.

Bassam first joined the FAM as general secretary before becoming president. During his tenure, he became one of the most influential figures in the association.

Several clubs began opposing Bassam’s leadership in 2019. New Radiant later led a no-confidence motion against him but was suspended by the FAM, with the association citing non-payment of players’ salaries. Victory Sports Club subsequently faced a similar suspension.

The disputes and subsequent issues within the association contributed to growing tensions between the FAM leadership and member clubs.