FIFA has banned former Football Association of Maldives (FAM) president Bassam Adheel Jaleel from football for life over the misuse of COVID-19 relief funds.

FIFA announced the decision today, stating that Bassam had personally misused funds provided through its COVID-19 relief programme to help national football associations recover from the pandemic’s impact.

Bassam is currently serving a 32-year prison sentence after being convicted of embezzling USD 1.2 million deposited with FAM by FIFA, along with an additional USD 10,000. He was convicted in October last year.

Alongside the lifetime ban, FIFA has fined Bassam USD 1.23 million.

FIFA had previously suspended Bassam for nine months over corruption, money laundering and embezzlement-related offences.

The Criminal Court sentenced Bassam to 32 years in prison after finding that he had embezzled FIFA funds deposited with FAM. Two apartments he purchased in Amin Avenue, Hulhumalé, using the embezzled funds have been placed under police custody, while the High Court has ordered that no transactions involving the properties be carried out.

The state has also filed charges against Amin Construction in connection with the case.

FIFA has also banned former FAM financial director Mohamed Aqeel from football for 10 years and fined him USD 122,607 for assisting in the misuse of FIFA funds, preparing false documents and breaching FIFA’s ethics regulations.