Minister Mahloof refutes claims of AFC threatening Youth Ministry

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) had not threatened the Maldivian government and reports claiming as such are untrue, Minister of Youth, Sports, and Community Empowerment, Ahmed Mahloof has said.

Minister Mahloof clarified that the AFC had responded to a letter from the ministry informing it that a ‘fact finding’ committee has been formed to investigate why Maldives was not given a slot in the AFC Cup, by saying that the confederation does not agree with a ‘third party being involved’ in its affairs.

Mahloof said on Thursday that he will be calling on AFC president Salman Bin Ibrahim Al-Khalifa, where he will discuss how the confederation can further support ‘the development of football in the Maldives’.

AFC had stated that it is reviewing the Football Association of Maldives’ concerns as well, while Minister Mahloof further said that he has guaranteed that the ministry is not attempting to, in any manner, influence the association.

However, Mahloof said that while the FAM had received large sums of money, they remain unaccounted for and that he has shared his concerns with Bassam Adeel Jaleel, president of the Football Association of the Maldives.