SUS exit leaves First Division spot open; FAM set to appoint new team

According to the rules, if Super United Sports (SUS) decides to forfeit their spot in the Dhivehi Premier League (DPL) or the first division, the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) Executive Committee (exco) has the authority to fill that vacancy.

Super United Sports (SUS) has informed FAM that it will not participate in the Dhivehi Premier League, reportedly due to an agreement with New Radiant. This reduces the first division teams from 10 to 9, and the FAM Executive Committee has the authority to fill the vacancy to maintain the league structure.

Article 12 of the new league rules clarifies the process: if a team withdraws before the start of the tournament, the FAM Executive Committee can offer the vacant spot to the best-performing team from the relevant regional league, which currently is the second division.

“...If a team withdraws before the start of the tournament, the FAM Executive Committee shall decide whether to give the next best team in the regional league in the region to which the team belongs a chance,” Article 12, paragraph 2 of the Dhivehi League rules specifies.

At present, the first division is limited to teams from the Malé region, and the regional league corresponds to the second division.

Odi Sports and Victory, who reached the final of the most recent second division tournament, have already secured their places in the first division. The remaining vacancy will go to the better-performing team among the two that lost in the second division semi-finals.

In those semi-finals, Victory and Odi faced New and Tent, respectively. Between New and Tent, New currently holds the edge based on goal difference—they conceded fewer goals than Tent.

Therefore, New stands as the leading candidate to fill the open spot in the first division. However, this will only be finalized once the FAM Executive Committee officially approves the decision.