Male' Maldives (August 20): FIFA appoints former Sports Minister Ahmed Zuhoor as Chairman of the Football Association of Maldives (FAM) Normalization Committee.

FIFA decided to establish a normalization committee to oversee FAM on the 23rd of last month, following a survey conducted by FIFA and AFC teams to assess the state of Maldivian football.

Today, FIFA confirmed the appointment of the normalization committee, with Zuhoor as its chair. Joining him on the committee are Ahmed Muizzu, Fareeha Shareef, Ismail Siman, and Ahmed Ali.

In a prior interview with "Adhadhu Sports," Zuhoor mentioned that FIFA conducted an interview regarding his role in the normalization committee.

Zuhoor, who was previously the chairman of the Housing Development Corporation under the current government before his termination, has also served as the Customs Commissioner General and the Managing Director of Stelco.

The deadline for the Normalization Committee to fulfill its mandate is set for the end of July 2025. However, if the tasks are not completed by that date, an extension is likely.

The mandate for the Normalization Committee includes overseeing the day-to-day operations of the association, ensuring that FAM's statutes and electoral code align with FIFA's regulations, investigating the previous leadership's misuse of funds through legal channels, restructuring FAM's debts with the assistance of FIFA's external financial consultants, and organizing the next FAM election in accordance with the statutes.

This is the third time FIFA has appointed a Normalization Committee to oversee the Football Association and stabilize Maldivian football, following similar appointments in 2008 and 2013. The significant new challenge this time is the concerning level of FAM’s debt.