FIFA Banned Two Former Federation Presidents Over Abuse of Position and Misuse of Funds

FIFA has imposed lifetime bans on two former federation presidents over allegations of gross abuse of position and misuse of funds. Vincent Cassell, the long-time leader of Montserrat Football Association, was found responsible for 'abuse of position, systemic conflicts of interest' and the misuse of FIFA and federation funds.

Cassell's case has a lengthy history, with previous proceedings dating back to 2011 when he and his general secretary Tandica Hughes were prosecuted by FIFA's then-ethics committee in connection with Caribbean football officials receiving $40,000 in cash payments linked to Qatari football official Mohamed bin Hammam.

Hughes has now been banned from football for 15 years. The pair had also pleaded guilty to tax evasion charges in a Montserrat court in April. Cassell was fined 1 million Swiss francs ($1.23 million) and his latest FIFA sanction includes a charge of 'conduct affecting the physical and mental integrity of (federation) staff members'.

Another former federation president, Bassam Adeel Jaleel from the Maldives Football Association, has also been banned for life over his use of FIFA's Covid-19 relief money for personal gain. He was sentenced to 23 years in prison this year for embezzling $1.2 million from FIFA.