FAM to scrap zones, increase top division clubs

Football Association of Maldives (FAM) has proposed changes in its new draft constitution, including the removal of zones and an increase in the number of clubs competing in the top two divisions.

Voting will be taken on the constitution at the congress to be held next Friday evening.

FAM has sent the draft constitution to clubs. The biggest change in this constitution is increasing the legal number of clubs in the top division and removing the provisions on zones.

The First Division currently has 10 teams. This includes the original eight teams plus Victory and Odi, who qualified from the latest Second Division tournament. However, FAM's current constitution states that the number of First Division clubs should be capped at eight. Therefore, Victory and Odi were not invited to the most recent congress.

The Second Division previously had 10 teams, which remains the same in current rules. However, 13 teams want to compete in the Second Division. Hence, the draft proposes amending the constitution to allow for this.

Some believe that Article 10 of the current constitution gives authority for the nine zones to have representation in Congress even if FAM implement it.

Article 10 of the current constitution lists FAM members as:

- 8 First Division clubs

- 10 Second Division clubs

- Zone 9

This is from the constitution amended at FAM's July 2020 congress. FAM gives Congress representation to one Third Division club as zone 9. In the first congress held under the Normalization Committee, this position was given to CBL from Third Division.

Article 13 of the draft constitution lists FAM members as;

- 10 First Division clubs

-13 Second Division clubs

CBL officials confirmed they were invited to Friday evening's congress. However, if the proposed constitution passes, there will be no zone nine. Only the top two divisions, totaling 23 clubs, will remain.

A conference with the FIFA delegation and clubs is scheduled for Thursday before the congress to pass the constitution.

The congress agenda will also include passing the annual reports for 2023 and 2024, approving the 2024 budget, appointing auditors for the 2025–2028 term, adopting a new electoral code, and setting dates for the upcoming elections.