Defiant Maldives football chief rules out resignation

Football Association of Maldives (FAM) President Bassam Adeel Jaleel said on Tuesday that he does not have to resign yet. 

Bassam, who is under fire for several setbacks in Maldivian football including the humiliating defeat in last month's SAFF Championship as well as allegations of financial mismanagement, met with journalists on Tuesday after a long time. The press conference was attended by FAM Vice President Ali Umar and Secretary General Hussain Jawaz.

The most frequently asked question by journalists was whether he would admit failure and resign. In response, Bassam said he would resign once the FAM member clubs decide that they do not have confidence in him.

Bassam said the clubs will determine who will run the FAM and he will resign when he loses the confidence of the clubs.

The two-term FAM president said he would not run for a third term once he loses that confidence.

"I am the one who has taken the biggest responsibility for everything in football today. So I hear those voices. Hopefully the necessary changes will be made," Bassam said.

Bassam added:

Bassam said he is working on many plans to strengthen the management of the FAM in the coming days. The plans, Bassam said, are:

Bassam said meetings will be held with the media and other stakeholders to discuss the plans.