Police find evidence from FAM House

The police said on Monday that they found evidence pertaining to the investigation against the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) in their recent raid on the FAM House.

A police spokesperson told Sun that the police were analyzing the evidence it collected during the raid.

The police raided the FAM House on Sunday morning at the instructions of the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGO). According to the authorities, the case involves misappropriation of state funds.

When asked about the case, FAM’s president Bassam Adeel Jaleel said he would “make a comment, once the investigation is complete.”

In a statement on Sunday, the PGO said that Maldives fosters close relations with foreign countries and international organizations – that have faith in Maldives’ state institutions.

The PGO said that it finds it imperative to maintain that trust, and ascertain the integrity and fairness of state institutions, adding that it was directly linked to Maldives’ national interests.

The Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem finds the allegations that FAM utilizes the funds it receives from international organizations in violation of rules and regulations to commit or facilitate the commission of crimes deeply concerning, said the PGO.

The PGO instructed to investigate if there is any money laundering, embezzlement, corruption, or any other criminal offense committed by senior officials of the association at any point, and submit for prosecution, if there is any individual that can be charged in connection to the crimes.

FAM House, formerly FAM administrative building, located in front of MIFCO, has been the target of allegations of corruption in the past as well.

The police raid of FAM House came at a time they remain at the end of many corruption allegations.

Many football officials have claimed cases of corruption within FAM, with the association's president Bassam spearheading these efforts. The association is also knee-deep in debt.

The impact of FAM's failure to host league competitions regularly on the national football team is clearly evident. After hailing as the second-strongest team in South Asia, they are now struggling to produce results against weaker teams such as Nepal and Bangladesh.

The association has not been able to pay its employees on a regular basis either. Additionally, they are also in hot water with FIFA over the non-payment of salaries to former national team technical staff.

Two members of the executive committee have also recently resigned due to persistent issues within FAM; Hussain Shafiu (Kokki), CEO of Maziya Sports and Recreation Club, who was the vice-president, and Muaviyath Khaleel (Muabe), a member of the executive committee and president of Club Green Streets.