Clubs hesitant to start season amid financial challenges

First division football clubs in the Maldives have expressed hesitancy about starting the new football season due to financial challenges impacting the sport in the country.

These remarks were made during a meeting held between football clubs and the Normalization Committee recently appointed to run the Football Association of Maldives (FAM). All 10 clubs of the first division, including recently promoted second division clubs had convened for the meeting held at the National Football Stadium's VIP room.

The committee held discussions with clubs regarding the commencement of Maldives' football season during this meeting.

Mihaaru News reported that the biggest concern of local clubs are unsettled payment owed to them by FAM.

Clubs have been left with no means to begin the new season without these funds. They emphasized at the meeting that seven out of ten clubs are currently in circumstances where they cannot even sign a new player.

"Most clubs believe that it not viable to begin the season this year in this situation." said a club official who attended the meeting.

The Normalization Committee had also invited Club Valencia who are suspended from assuming any club activities by FAM's former leadership to the meeting.

The official further assured that the events leading up to club's suspension will also be investigated.

Meanwhile, committee members met with Minister of Sports, Fitness, and Recreation, Abdulla Rafiu, last evening. According to a Ministry official cited by Mihaaru News, the meeting lasted well over an hour.

"The minister's meetings with the association are usually extended by only an hour. However, the Normalization Committee meeting went on for quite a long time," said the Ministry official.