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Four former football officials have been sanctioned by the adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee over misconduct including the misuse of FIFA funds, abuse of position and conflicts of interest.
Former Football Association of Maldives (FAM) president Bassam Adeel Jaleel received the most severe punishment, being handed a lifetime ban from all football-related activity and a CHF 1 million fine. FIFA said Jaleel misused funds provided through its COVID-19 Relief Plan for his personal benefit.
Former FAM director of finance and administration Mohamed Ageel was banned from football-related activities for 10 years and fined CHF 100,000. His violations included facilitating and concealing the misuse of FIFA funds, using falsified documentation and failing to cooperate with the Ethics Committee.
The adjudicatory chamber also imposed a lifetime ban and CHF 1 million fine on former Montserrat Football Association (MFA) president Vincent Cassell. He was sanctioned for abuse of position, systemic conflicts of interest, misuse of FIFA and MFA funds, and conduct that affected the physical and mental integrity of MFA staff members.
Former MFA general secretary Tandica Hughes received a 15-year ban and was fined CHF 150,000. FIFA found that Hughes personally benefited from and facilitated improper transactions involving FIFA and MFA resources, including undue benefits, abuse of position and misuse of funds.
All four individuals were notified of the decisions on the day the sanctions came into force. FIFA said the full reasons for the decisions will be communicated to the individuals in due course in accordance with the FIFA Code of Ethics.
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