Must follow international examples to kick-start football: MP Thariq

Former President of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) and member of parliament for the Mahibadhoo constituency Ahmed Thariq (Tom) has declared that Maldives needs to take an example from other world nations, and have football resume across the country post haste.

The Dhiraagu Dhivehi Premier League (DDPL), Maldives' First Division football league, had been suspended indefinitely early in February 2021 following a directive issued by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) issuing a blanket ban on sports and sports related activities as Covid-19 cases spiked dangerously in the nation's capital.

First Division clubs and players have since been calling for the swift resumption of the league, noting the immense losses they have been facing as a result of the league's abrupt suspension.

On 25 February, FAM and HPA had greenlit practices for First Division clubs under a revised set of Covid-19 health and safety guidelines. While FAM had attempted to have the league restarted once on 20 March and once gain on 25 March, the Health Protection Agency has yet to issue permission to have the DDPL resume.

At a time First Division clubs are left uncertain and impatient for results, former forward for the Maldives National Football team and Ex-President of the FAM, member of parliament for the Mahibadhoo constituency Ahmed Thariq, had posted on Facebook calling for authorities to swiftly issue the necessary permits in order to allow play to resume for the DDPL. He went on to criticize the HPA's Technical Advisory Group (TAG), describing their restrictions as ones that had brought the whole nation, and not just football, to a devastating standstill.

While the HPA's blanket ban on sports has seen football matches and the First Division league halted in the country, Maldives is the only country in the Asian region to have such restrictions place.

FAM President Bassam Adeel Jaleel, who recently tested positive for Covid-19 himself, has been calling for authorities to swiftly restart the DDPL in light of the huge losses being faced by First Division clubs and players following the league's suspension. In efforts to have the DDPL resume, First Division clubs have met with President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih as well to relay their concerns on the matter.

First Division clubs continue to vocalize distress that the DDPL has not been given the greenlight to resume by HPA, despite Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof, and Minister of Health Ahmed Naseem both having expressed their support for the cause.