FIFA bans two ex-football chiefs for life over financial misconduct

FIFA has banned two former national football federation presidents for life after its ethics committee found them guilty of serious financial misconduct and abuse of office.

The sanctions were imposed on Vincent Cassell, former president of the Montserrat Football Association, and Bassam Adeel Jaleel, former president of the Maldives Football Association, following investigations by FIFA’s adjudicatory chamber.

Cassell was found guilty of abuse of position, conflicts of interest and misuse of FIFA funds. He was also fined 1 million Swiss francs. FIFA additionally sanctioned his former associate Tandica Hughes, a former federation secretary general, with a 15-year ban and a 150,000 Swiss franc fine for benefiting from and facilitating irregular transactions.

Jaleel was found to have misused FIFA relief funds provided during the COVID-19 pandemic. He was banned for life and fined 1 million Swiss francs. Maldivian media reported that he diverted $1.2 million from the funds to purchase an apartment, for which he was previously sentenced to 23 years in prison by a local court.

Former Maldives FA finance director Mohamed Ageel was also banned for 10 years and fined 100,000 Swiss francs for allegedly helping misuse and conceal funds, using forged documents and failing to cooperate with the FIFA ethics investigation.

Cassell had previously faced scrutiny over financial and governance issues in Montserrat. FIFA appointed an emergency management team to the federation in February amid institutional problems and a prolonged crisis.

The lifetime bans bar Cassell and Jaleel from taking part in any football-related activity.