USD 1M missing from Maldives arena project: FIFA

FIFA's legal team has revealed that about USD one million is missing from the funds provided by FIFA to Football Association of Maldives (FAM) for the development of a sports arena in Maafannu Stadium.

The revelation was made at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), in a an appeal hearing about former FAM President Bassam Adeel's nine month suspension by FIFA.

Defending FIFA's independent ethics committee's decision, the organisation's lawyers alleged Bassam misappropriated the funds, detailing that the FIFA forward project provided USD 1.48 million for the arena project, which includes a rehabilitation centre, FAM office space and a turf field.

The project's foundation stone was laid by then Sports Minister Ahmed Mahloof and Bassam. FAM awarded the project to Tibora Pvt Ltd for USD 1,555,038 at the time.

FAM informed FIFA in 2019 that the additional cost of MVR 75,000 to be paid to the company would be borne by the association.

However, Tibora was unable to complete the project according to plans, and was redirected to Apollo Holdings on a subcontractor basis. FAM also agreed to pay Apollo directly for the work.

Apollo did not receive any payment for the project. Instead, they received a portion of the land allocated to the association to develop a football school in Hulhumalé as compensation.

However, Tibora received USD 444,000 for the project on January 28, 2021, said the lawyers citing FAM's bank statement. President of Super United Sports (SUS) and close friend of Bassam, Ahmed Afrah (Afey) is a shareholder of Tibora, the lawyers also said.

Of the USD1.4 million FIFA gave to FAM in various stages, the fate of some USD 1.036 million remains unknown.

FIFA's lawyers said they had not found any documents to show how the money was spent.

In court, Bassam's lawyer said he had paid Tibaro, but he did not submit any documents or evidence to support the claim, the trial report said.

His defence argued that the documents were taken by police during the raid of two FAM offices.

Last February, CAS ruled against Bassam had declared that the nine month suspension was justified. This suspension was imposed on June 2024 and expired in March this year.

The ground floor of the arena which was approved by FIFA now has godowns on the ground floor level. However FIFA said this is in violation of the approval granted by the body.