Amendment proposed to shift towards a nation wide football scene

TC Sports has proposed an amendment to the Football Association of Maldives (FAM)'s constitution with the support of 10 other clubs to establish regional football associations in four regions of the country, and to establish a nationwide league system.

If the amendments, led by former FAM president and former national team striker Ahmed Thorig (Tom), are passed by the FAM congress next month, they will allow football to be decentralized for the first time in Maldives' history.

This is a move encouraged by FIFA, and believed by many to be the only way to revive the diminished football scene in there country.

Tom, who is expected to run for president in the FAM election, said although the amendment was submitted with 10 of the 17 clubs, he believes the rest of the clubs would approve of the amendments too.

Maldivian champions Maziya and Valencia, and from the second division, Mahibadhoo, JJ Sports and Tent Sports are among the 10 clubs that have signed the amendment.

During next month's congress, the constitution will be amended. This would be followed by an electoral congress where FAM's executive committee would be elected. FAM's normalisation committee is working to conclude this before its term expires on July 23. If unsuccessful, the likelihood of FIFA suspending Maldives is very high, local reports say.

FIFA had even ordered to delay the Dhivehi Premier League to make way for these tasks.

The main reason why FIFA appointed a normalisation committee was also to revise the association's constitution after FAM's previous administration was discovered to be riddled with corruption. The current constitution centralises power to the Malé Zone and allows the FAM to be run centrally as well.

If the amendment proposed by TC is passed, the current FAM will become a national federation. Under it, regional associations are proposed to be formed as:

- North Regional Football Association of Maldives (HA, Hdh, Sh, N, R, B and Lh)

- Central Regional Football Association of Maldives (K, AA, Adh, V, M, F and Dh)

- Malé Regional Football Association of Maldives (Malé City clubs, second division clubs and third division clubs)

- South Regional Football Association of Maldives (Th, L, GA, Gdh, Thinadhoo City, Fuvahmulah City and Addu City)

Tom said if passed, the amendments would empower clubs in the four regions with right to vote in decisions regarding football related matters in the Maldives. This would also mean the national federation would have a total of 64 votes, 11 for each regional association and 20 for the Dhivehi Premier League.

If approved, the reforms would require the establishment of regional associations within one year, the start of regional leagues within two years and promote clubs to the Dhivehi Premier League from these leagues and a restructuring of the football system on the basis that clubs are promoted and relegated from the leagues.

Tom said they sought the advice of a lot of technical experts, and that the plan was to play a tournament in each atoll and qualify the champion team for the regional league in that zone. They would then qualify for the Dhivehi Premier League and be relegated from the regional league.

“After the Dhivehi Premier League ends this year, hopefully the next league will be on the new system,” Tom said.