ZURICH, Switzerland — Former Montserrat Football Association president Vincent Cassell has been banned from football for life and fined 1.2 million Swiss francs (CHF) by FIFA following an investigation into his conduct while serving as a senior football official.

Former MFA general secretary Tandica Hughes was also sanctioned, receiving a 15-year ban from all football-related activity and a CHF150,000 fine.

FIFA’s Ethics Committee announced the sanctions on September 11, citing abuse of position, systemic conflicts of interest, misuse of FIFA and MFA funds, and conduct affecting the physical and mental integrity of MFA staff members in Cassell’s case.

Hughes was sanctioned for personally benefiting from and facilitating improper transactions involving FIFA and MFA resources, including undue benefits, abuse of position and misuse of FIFA and MFA funds.

The sanctions mark the second time both former MFA officials have been disciplined by FIFA.

In 2011, Cassell received a 60-day ban and a fine of just over CHF200, while Hughes was handed a 15-day ban and a similar fine over their roles in the Caribbean Football Union bribery scandal.

The scandal centred on former FIFA presidential candidate Mohamed bin Hammam, who was later banned for life after being accused of offering or making cash payments to officials from 25 Caribbean Football Union associations during a special meeting in Trinidad on May 10, 2011.

Cassell and Hughes also pleaded guilty in a Montserrat court in April to tax evasion charges.

The MFA is currently under a FIFA normalisation committee to manage its affairs. In January 2026, FIFA said the intervention was made in consultation with Concacaf to address what it described as an “exceptional crisis and institutional paralysis” within the association.

FIFA’s latest sanctions were issued alongside separate penalties against two former officials of the Football Association of Maldives.

Former FAM president Bassam Adeel Jaleel was banned for life and fined CHF1 million for misusing FIFA COVID-19 Relief Plan funds for his personal benefit.

Former FAM director of finance and administration Mohamed Ageel received a 10-year ban and a CHF100,000 fine for facilitating and concealing the misuse of FIFA funds, using falsified documentation and failing to cooperate with FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee.

FIFA said the individuals have been notified of the decisions and the dates on which the sanctions come into force. The grounds for the decisions will follow in accordance with the FIFA Code of Ethics.