FIFA bans Bassam from football for life
12 ސެޕްޓެމްބަރު 2026 | ހޮނިހިރު 07:52FIFA has issued a lifetime ban and a $1.23 million fine against Bassam Adeel Jaleel, the former President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), following investigations into money laundering and embezzlement. In addition to Bassam's permanent suspension, the world football governing body also banned former FAM Finance Director Mohamed Agheel for 10 years, while Bassam remains under house arrest in the Maldives serving a separate prison sentence issued by a local court.
Bassam Adeel Jaleel, President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), meets with the Maldives national football team, the "Red Snappers," ahead of their crucial match against the Chinese national team - September 8, 2026. | FAM
The world football governing body, FIFA, announced on Friday a lifetime ban from all football-related activities for Bassam Adeel Jaleel, the former President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), following findings that he misappropriated COVID-19 relief funds for personal use.
Bassam was previously under a provisional suspension during the investigation into allegations of money laundering, embezzlement, and corruption. In addition to this suspension, FIFA has ordered Bassam to pay a fine of one million Swiss francs ($1.23 million).
Bassam was unavailable for comment regarding the matter. A Maldivian court has sentenced him to a total of 32 years in prison for embezzling FIFA funds into his personal accounts and using money allocated under the FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan to purchase an apartment.
However, Bassam was transferred to house arrest last month following a recommendation from the medical board. Although he had previously been moved to house arrest in March, he was returned to prison following public criticism.
FIFA has announced that Mohamed Agheel, the former Director of Finance and Administration at the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), has also been banned from all football-related activities for a period of 10 years.
FIFA has also ordered Aqeel to pay a fine of 100,000 Swiss francs for facilitating the misappropriation of FIFA funds, attempting to conceal the acts, and using falsified documents. Furthermore, he was sanctioned for failing to cooperate with FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee during the investigation.
Furthermore, the former president of the Montserrat Football Association (MFA), Vincent Cassell, has been handed a lifetime ban and fined one million Swiss francs. According to FIFA, these sanctions were imposed due to his involvement in the abuse of position, conflicts of interest, and the misappropriation of FIFA and MFA funds, as well as actions that compromised the physical and mental well-being of the association's staff.
FIFA has announced that Tendayi Hughes, the former General Secretary of the Mauritius Football Association (MFA), has been banned from all football-related activities for 15 years and fined 150,000 Swiss francs. The sanctions were imposed after investigations revealed he had abused his position to facilitate and personally profit from illicit transactions involving FIFA and MFA resources.
