The Football Association of Maldives (FAM) has cleared the outstanding prize money from the SAFF Championship 2021, held in Malé.

FAM had allocated a total of USD 75,000 as prize money for the champions and runners-up of the tournament. SAFF has now paid this amount to India and Nepal, the two teams that finished as runners-up.

India received USD 50,000, while Nepal was awarded USD 25,000.

The delay in releasing the prize money had been a point of concern among SAFF member nations. The matter was discussed during last year’s SAFF Executive Committee meeting and later raised at the SAFF Congress, where members expressed dissatisfaction over the missed payment deadlines.

Due to the lack of response from FAM regarding the overdue payments, the issue was also forwarded to the AFC. SAFF leadership had further discussed possible actions against the Maldives for the delays.

With the payments now settled, the long-standing issue has been resolved.