Thread: Fifa warns Thailand of possible international ban

Fifa warns Thailand of possible international ban
Afifah Ariffin
Jun 20, 2013

FAT president Worawi Makudi has rescheduled elections for a new chief

The world's football governing body has reprimanded the Football Association of Thailand and cautioned them to settle their legal issues by June 24 in order to avoid sanctions

Fifa has reacted to the Football Association of Thailand’s (FAT) postponement of the elections for a new chief, which were scheduled to be held on June 16.

The world’s governing football body sent an official warning letter the following morning after Worawi Makudi, president of the FAT, was forced to reschedule the elections due to a court injunction from the Min Buri Court in Bangkok.

However, as Fifa rules do not allow for civil courts to get involved in the administration of national football bodies, Thailand may possibly face an international ban if the impending lawsuit is not dropped by Monday, June 24.

Fifa’s deputy secretary-general Markus Kattner warned in the letter the FAT of the consequences should they not comply with Fifa's requests.

"Please take note that should the club's action (lawsuit) not to be withdrawn by 24 June 2013, the matter will be referred to the Fifa Emergency Committee to take appropriate measures against the FAT," Kattner said.

"such a suspension would mean that the FAT would lose all its membership rights... as well as prevent all Thailand teams (national or club) from having international contact and participating in Fifa and AFC competitions.

“It would also mean that neither FAT nor its members or officials could benefit from any Fifa or AFC development programme, course, or training during the term of the suspension.”

Fifa also reminded FAT that they are only allowed to hold the elections after adopting the revised FAT statutes. Furthermore, this has to take place no later than September 30 this year.

"Failure to respect this decision would again mean the matter would be referred to the competent Fifa body to take appropriate measures," cautioned Kattner.

Domestic teams that are potentially threatened should the ban be imposed include Buriram United, who are into the quarter-finals of the AFC Champions League.

Fifa's letter to the FAT in full below:






goal.com

Its lost face, humble pie and trousers down six of the best time for the FAT.

FIFA suspension looms as Thais fight reforms
(Reporting by Patrick Johnston in Singapore; Editing by John O'Brien)
Sun Jun 23, 2013



REUTERS - Thailand face a FIFA-imposed suspension on Monday after a lowly fourth tier club refused to balk at pressure from the world governing body to drop a court order halting controversial reforms that has left the game in crisis.

Thai FA (FAT) leader and FIFA executive committee member Worawi Makudi has also, so far unsuccessfully, pressured Pattaya FC to drop the court injunction which led to him postponing last Sunday's FAT presidential elections indefinitely.

The argument centres on one of the FIFA and Worawi backed reforms that would see the slashing of the number of eligible voters from around 180 to just 72.

Worawi wanted to push through the new reforms in line with FIFA statues in a vote on June 15 before holding the presidential election a day later, just before his latest term ended.

But Pattaya secured an order from Bangkok's Min Buri court on June 14 that prevented the Thai FA meeting to vote on the matter before the court reaches a verdict on the club's claim, local media reported

Critics say shrinking the vote is a ploy by Worawi to retain his seat amongst growing unpopularity. The controversial 61-year-old says the new reforms are a FIFA prerequisite.

FIFA said they could impose a suspension on Thailand should Pattaya not drop the claim by Monday, which Worawi said would jeopardise lucrative tours by Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea to the Southeast Asian country in the coming weeks.

The Thai Sports Authority are also watching the case with Thai Sports law dictating that an election must be held within 30 days of the incumbent's term expiring.

Annop Singtothong, vice president of Thai Premier League club Chon Buri FC and a rival of Worawi, said this week he would canvas members of the FAT to force the election to happen within the 30-day period and queried the timing of the reforms.

"All members are willing to comply with FIFA's regulations," he told English language daily The Nation.

"In fact, we had no objection with the new statute. But, we just would like to ask why there is an attempt to amend the rules on the final day of incumbent's mandate."

DEATH THREATS

Pattaya had also brought a suit against Worawi but dropped that earlier this week as it deemed he could no longer legitimately run the association following the end of this third two-year term on Sunday, the Nation reported on Wednesday.

The paper also said the club had received death threats.

FIFA were adamant that Pattaya were wrong to involve the courts in soccer governance.

"By pursuing their action before an ordinary court of law, the club's behaviour prevents FAT from managing its affairs independently and undermines the competent decision-making bodies of FAT, which is clearly contrary to the above obligations," FIFA said in a letter to FAT secretary-general Ong-arj Kosinkar on Monday, carried by several local media.

Football fan Pinit Ngarmpring, who is standing against Worawi in the FAT elections, pleaded for leniency in a replying letter to several high-standing FIFA officials including president Sepp Blatter.

Former national team manager Virach Charnpanich is also standing in the elections and he joined Pinit in a news conference this week to criticise Worawi for the timing of the reform push.

"This may prove that he wants to gain an upper hand in the election," he was quoted as saying by the Bangkok Post on Wednesday.

Worawi has long been plagued with allegations of corruption during his tenure with FIFA and the FAT but has successfully defended himself each time to remain in his powerful positions.

However, he failed in his bid to become Asian Football Confederation president in May when he was comprehensively beaten by Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa.

His popularity in Thailand has also suffered. He was criticised after a chaotic hosting of the FIFA Futsal World Cup last year which saw the main venue go unused after construction delays.

On Wednesday, he angrily denied the letter sent by FIFA officials threatening suspension was a fake.

"It is my responsibility. I am trying to do everything to follow the FIFA rules.

As for my position on FIFA's board... it's not related to this problem."

in.reuters.com