Inquiries of numerous journalists on the names of the candidates contesting in the FAM elections has proved unfruitful while many raises concerns on the delay, asserting that the policy mandates elections to be carried out with openness.
Football Association of Maldives (FAM) announced its decision to hold their elections on 20 April 2024 with a week extended as the window to apply for candidacy. While the period for applications announced on 8 February ended last Saturday, the delay in divulging the names of the candidates despite many requests of reporters has instilled concerns within many football critics and affiliates.
While numerous journalists had enquired about the candidates in the FAM media group, the Acting General Secretary of FAM, Mohamed Jaushan Shareef, had responded to each individual journalist’s queries in private.
His responses asserted that the contestants of the election will be revealed once the Electoral Committee of FAM opens the letters containing the names of candidates and further shared that he does not have the prerogative to reveal such information.
The Electoral Committee is tasked with all election procedures except approving the candidacy application forms, which is a task conferred to the Secretariat.
“FAM cannot give an answer regarding this without a decision of the Electoral Committee.” Jaushan had remarked.
In response to this, a former employee of FAM raised his concerns on the matter, stating that it is difficult to accept the delay in revealing the names of the contestants despite being strongly advised by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and the regional football body, Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to conduct transparent and direct elections.
“FIFA as well as AFC are also aware of the contestants of their election; that is how open their elections are. But in Maldives, FAM has been unable to disclose names of candidates. While elections must be proceeded with openness, they have not upheld this policy,” he opined.
Remarking on the formation of the Electoral Committee with a lacking quorum, the former employee had further questioned whether a proper quorum could have passed credence in the committee. While the congress that was held last month to form subcommittees of the Association was postponed by 15 minutes due to a lack of quorum and resumed with the same agenda to pass the subcommittees, multiple debates about the decorum of this congress had subsequently ensued.
Parliamentarian of the Mahibadhoo Constituency, Ahmed Thoriq (Tom), who had applied to contend in the attempted election of 13 January has sought to enter the elections slated for next month as well. Meanwhile, rumors have surfaced that the current President of the Association, Bassam Adeel Jaleel, is also contending in the election to secure a third term.
Thoriq had submitted his form together with the endorsement of Valencia Sports Club, who are suspended from all club activities at this moment. Maziya Sports Club and TC Sports Club were also within the eight clubs that backed Tom as a candidate. However, doubts have surfaced whether the Electoral Committee will accept the support of a club presently in suspension.
Thoriq’s candidacy for the elections slated for January 13 was revoked after Club Valencia had simultaneously endorsed two election candidates against the policy that mandates no clubs can support more than one election contestant. Another election had to be declared with FIFA issuing an order over FAM to halt the elections due to their negligence in forming an Appeal Committee up until that point.
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