New FAM ExCo tasked with forming zones, regional associations

The newly appointed executive committee of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) has been tasked with the responsibility of establishing football zones and regional associations, in line with the country’s Sports Act.

Elections under the new FAM regulations are scheduled for July 26. The new President of the association will take on several key responsibilities, including establishing zones and the creation of regional associations.

The executive committee will also be tasked with determining the structure of regional leagues and tournaments.

Supporters of former FAM president Ahmed Thoriq (Tom), who is expected to contest the election, have proposed amendments to the FAM constitution to divide the country into four zones and establish regional tournaments.

However, FIFA objected to including these changes in the constitution, according to an official who spoke to Mihaaru News.

Although the 2016 FAM constitution divided the country into nine zones and granted the authority to form sub-associations, this provision was not implemented during the tenure of then President Bassam Adeel Jaleel.

Critics, including Save FAM movement which advocates for reform within Maldivian football, have argued that the current structure fails to give meaningful representation to clubs from atolls. They said that without voting rights at the FAM Congress, these clubs cannot bring about real change in the sport.

Under the new FAM constitution, voting rights at the Congress are limited to 10 first-division clubs and 13 second-division clubs, with no provisions granting representation to atoll based teams. Membership in FAM and the associated right to vote remains confined to these 23 clubs.