FIFA has imposed lifetime bans on two former football federation presidents after finding them responsible for serious misconduct involving football funds and abuse of their official positions.

Former Maldives FA President Banned for Life

Former Football Association of Maldives (FAM) President Bassam Adeel Jaleel has been banned for life from all football-related activities and fined one million Swiss francs after FIFA found him responsible for misusing COVID-19 relief funds for personal benefit.

According to Reuters, Jaleel had previously been provisionally suspended while FIFA investigated allegations including money laundering, embezzlement and corruption.

Maldivian media have reported that Jaleel is currently serving prison sentences totalling 32 years for, among other allegations, depositing FIFA funds into his personal account and using money from FIFA’s COVID-19 Relief Plan to purchase an apartment.

Sun Online reported that he was transferred to house arrest last month following a recommendation from a medical board. He had previously been placed under house arrest in March but was returned to prison following public backlash.

FIFA also banned former FAM Director of Finance and Administration Mohamed Ageel for 10 years. Ageel was fined 100,000 Swiss francs after being found to have facilitated and concealed the misuse of FIFA funds, used falsified documents and failed to cooperate with FIFA's independent Ethics Committee.

Former Montserrat FA President Also Banned

FIFA has also imposed a lifetime ban on former Montserrat Football Association (MFA) President Vincent Cassell.

Cassell was fined one million Swiss francs after FIFA found him responsible for abuse of position, systemic conflicts of interest, misuse of FIFA and MFA funds, and conduct affecting the physical and mental integrity of MFA staff.

The MFA's former General Secretary, Tandica Hughes, was handed a 15-year ban and fined 150,000 Swiss francs for personally benefiting from and facilitating improper transactions involving FIFA and MFA resources.

The sanctions underline FIFA's disciplinary approach to financial misconduct, conflicts of interest and abuse of office within national football associations, particularly where officials are found to have used football resources for personal benefit.