FIFA bans former Maldives and Montserrat football chiefs for life over misuse of Covid funds

FIFA has imposed lifetime bans and heavy fines on former presidents of the football associations of the Maldives and Montserrat after investigations found that Covid-19 relief money had been misused for personal benefit.

Bassam Adel Jalil, the former president of the Football Association of Maldives, was banned from all football-related activity for life and fined one million Swiss francs (£? no conversion not source) – equivalent to $1.23m – FIFA announced on Friday.

The sanction followed findings that Jalil had abused funds from FIFA’s Covid-19 relief programme, which was established to support football associations during the pandemic. He was found to have transferred FIFA money into his personal account and used it to buy a luxury apartment.

Jalil had previously been provisionally suspended while he was investigated over allegations including money laundering, embezzlement and corruption.

Reuters, citing local media, reported that Jalil is currently serving a combined 32-year prison sentence for financial corruption. The Sun reported that he was moved to house arrest last month on medical grounds.

He had previously been placed under house arrest in March, but was returned to prison after widespread public anger.

FIFA also sanctioned Mohamed Aqeel, the former finance and administration director of the Maldives association. He received a 10-year ban and a fine of 100,000 Swiss francs for helping to facilitate and conceal the misuse of FIFA funds, using forged documents and failing to co-operate with FIFA’s independent ethics committee.

The disciplinary action also extended to the Caribbean, where Vincent Cassell, the former president of the Montserrat Football Association, was banned for life and fined one million Swiss francs.

Cassell was found guilty of abusing his position, engaging in systematic conflicts of interest and misusing funds belonging to FIFA and the association. FIFA also cited conduct that harmed the physical and psychological welfare of association employees.

Tandika Hughes, the former general secretary of the Montserrat association, was banned for 15 years and fined 150,000 Swiss francs.

He was punished for personally benefiting from, and helping to facilitate, unlawful transactions involving FIFA resources.

The cases represent a broad set of disciplinary measures against former senior officials in two football associations. FIFA said the decisions reflected its commitment to protecting football funds and ensuring that money reaches its intended recipients, particularly when it has been allocated for humanitarian crises.