FAM ordered to respond to claim filed by ex-employee over MVR 200K in unpaid salaries during Bassam-era

The Employment Tribunal has ordered the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) to provide a response to a case filed by a former employee claiming failure to receive around MVR 200,000 in salaries back when Bassam Adeel Jaleel ran the association.

The case was lodged by Mariyam Anjum Afzal, who served as director of international relations at the FAM.

The Employment Tribunal has ordered FAM to provide a written response to the claim.

Anjum has worked at the FAM between August 2022 and July 2024, when Bassam served as the association’s president.

The time when Bassam served as FAM’s president is marred by major financial woes for the association, with multiple employees and coaches alleging failure to make regular salary payments. Multiple former employees and coaches have lodged cases with the Employment Tribunal.

Bassam is currently serving a 32-year prison sentence after being convicted in connection with the misuse of funds from a USD 1.9 million FIFA COVID-19 relief loan provided to FAM to help clubs facing financial difficulties during the pandemic.

He has more cases involving allegations of misuse of FAM funds pending against him in court.

Bassam has also been slapped with a lifetime ban from football and fined USD 1.23 million by FIFA.