FIFA bans two former football federation presidents for life
The International Federation of Association Football, FIFA, has banned former Montserrat Football Association president Vincent Cassell and former Maldives Football Federation head Bassam Adeel Jalil from football for life over financial violations. Asharq Al-Awsat reports on FIFA’s decision.
Sanctions against Montserrat representative
According to FIFA, Cassell was accused of abuse of office, systematic conflicts of interest, and improper use of FIFA and national federation funds. He was also accused of actions that affected the physical and psychological integrity of federation employees. In addition to the lifetime ban, Cassell was fined 1 million Swiss francs, estimated in the report at $1.23 million.
Former Montserrat federation general secretary Thandika Hughes was banned from football for 15 years and ordered to pay 150,000 Swiss francs. FIFA stated that Hughes benefited from and facilitated improper transactions, abused her position, and misused funds.
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In April, Cassell and Hughes pleaded guilty to tax evasion in a Montserrat court, the Associated Press reported. In February, FIFA appointed an emergency management team for the federation, citing an “exceptional crisis and institutional paralysis.”
Violations in the Maldives
Regarding Bassam Adeel Jalil, FIFA stated that he used FIFA COVID-19 relief programme funds for his own benefit. Maldivian media reported this year that Jalil was sentenced to 23 years in prison for embezzling $1.2 million in FIFA funds. The money was intended for local football clubs and, according to media reports, was spent on purchasing apartments.
FIFA also fined Jalil 1 million Swiss francs. Former Maldives federation finance director Mohamed Agil was banned for 10 years and fined 100,000 Swiss francs. FIFA noted that his case concerns facilitating and concealing the improper use of funds, using falsified documents, and refusing to cooperate with an ethics investigation.
