FIFA has ordered Football Association of Maldives (FAM) to compensate former assistant coach of Maldives national team, Simao Costa.
Costa joined the team last year to work with the national team’s head coach Francesco Moriero.
Costa claimed that FAM owed him salary for the seven months he worked in the Maldives beginning in January 2022. He filed a lawsuit against FAM at the international football federation earlier in September 2022. He confirmed to Mihaaru news that FIFA decided in his favour; however, he did not specify the exact compensation amount.
“I cannot disclose exactly how much I am owed. [FIFA] ordered against disclosing the compensation at the sentencing,” the former Italian midfielder said.
Reportedly, FAM was ordered to pay over USD 40,000 to the former assistant coach within 45 days from the date of FIFA’s decision.
This is not the first time FAM has come under FIFA's scrutiny. The FIFA Football Chambers earlier demanded FAM to pay a compensation total of USD 187,375 to Rene Hidink. Hidink had joined as the assistant to the former Maldives national team coach, Martin Coopman, who also had an outstanding salary similar to Hidink.
FIFA had also ordered FAM to settle MVR 600,000 in outstanding remuneration to Davo Baba, the former coach to women’s national football team.