Bassam reelected as president of FAM

Bassam Adeel Jaleel has been reelected as the president of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM), for a second term.

A FAM congress election was held on Thursday, despite a request by the People’s Majlis to delay voting at the sports ministry who in turn made the same request to the football association.

The parliament made the request following an emergency motion submitted by Central-Henveiru constituency MP Ali Azim, seeking action against the association. The motion is currently at committee stage. The motion also calls to halt the elections, until the parliament work is completed.

The congress election was held on Thursday with the approval of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association, or FIFA.

While the election has to be held before November this year, the FAM executive committee made the decision to hold it prior to deadline, back in February.

Bassam ran unopposed for the post, and hence, was elected automatically along with his executive committee.

This decision, for the automatic election of those running unopposed, was made at Thursday’s meeting as well with all members present voting in its favour.

The clubs that participated at the congress meeting are; Maziya Sports and Recreational Club, Club Eagles, Club Green Streets, United Victory, Da Grande Sports Club, Club PK, JJ Sports Club, Mahibadhoo Sports Club, Kuda Henveiru United, Red Line Sports Club and Club Valencia.

Those elected to the FAM executive committee are; Bassam (president), Ali Umar (senior vice president) and Hassan Shafiu (vice president), as well as members Aminath Shaneez, Ahmed Shakeeb, Mohamed Shifau, Mufaviz Hashim, Ahmed Nasheed and Muaviyath Khaleel.

The motion submitted by MP Azim calls on the sports ministry to ensure that FAM follows all sports laws and regulations. FIFA has previously issued a suspension warning to the football association, over third party influences.