Corruption is a ‘far off’ concept to the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), association president Bassam Adeel Jaleel has said.

Bassam said this during his address at the Maldives Football Awards 2018 on Friday evening, adding that the association is one that is heavily audited and operates transparently.

He further said that while allegations of FAM being a ‘haven for corruption’ persist, the association is reviewed by three independent auditors.

Bassam further said that funds are released to the association on a quarterly basis every year, and that said funds are withheld until FAM provides a financial report for every quarter.

He also addressed previous activity, ostensibly illicit in nature, by saying that the national team used to fly abroad with USD 30,000 or 40,000 in cash, although this is ‘now history’.

The FAM president’s comments come while the Youth Ministry has established a fact-finding committee to investigate and account for funds that the FAM received.