By Andrew Warshaw
June 24 – Thailand are facing a ban from all FIFA competitions over an election row that could plunge lucrative pre-season tours by Barcelona, Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea into jeopardy. FIFA has warned the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) – headed by controversial FIFA executive committee member Worawi Makudi – that it must resolve the dispute by the end of today (Monday) or face suspension.
The impasse centres on the refusal by a lowly fourth-tier club Pattaya to drop a court order halting controversial reforms. Pattaya went to a local court to prevent a change in the Thai federation’s statutes that would reduce the number of voting clubs in FAT elections from 184 to 72.
Those supporting the move believe an attempt to reduce the voting members was a deliberate ploy by Makudi supporters to back his chances of re-election. In the end the elections were postponed, prompting the intervention of FIFA who regard the court action as a breach of its strict rules outlawing clubs going to civil courts to resolve football matters.
Makudi (pictured), who has faced charges of impropriety in his own country, recently ran for president of the Asian Football Confederation but was well beaten by Bahrain’s Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa.
He now risks his entire federation being thrown out of world football. “Please take note that should the club’s action (lawsuit) not to be withdrawn by June 24, 2013, the matter will be referred to the FIFA Emergency Committee to take appropriate measures against the FAT,” FIFA Deputy Secretary-General Markus Kattner said in a letter sent to the Thai FA.
“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.”
Among the teams threatened by a ban would be Buriram United, who are into the quarter-finals of the Asian Champions League, and the Thai national futsal team, which is already committed to take part in the Asian Indoor Games in Incheon, South Korea, at the end of this month. Lucrative pre-season tours by the afore-mentioned Spanish and English clubs would also be in jeopardy.
According to local reports, Makudi argued that fresh elections cannot take place until the new statutes are put in place. His opponents believe it should be the other way round and that elections should be held first.
But FIFA’s position is clear. “Please be reminded that, in accordance with the decision of the FIFA Associations Committee on Feb 14, 2013, the FAT must adopt revised FAT statutes and only then can the election (for FAT President) take place and by no later than Sept 30, 2013,” Kattner wrote.
“Failure to respect this decision would again mean the matter would be referred to the competent FIFA body to take appropriate measures.”
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