February 7 – The reputation of Thai football, for years under the control of the now disgraced Worami Makudi, has been rocked yet again – this time involving Makudi’s successor Somyot Poompunmuang, the country’s former national police chief.
Poompunmuang admitted Monday he borrowed $9.5 million from a brothel owner who is wanted on human trafficking charges.
Poompunmuang told reporters that Kampol Wirathepsuporn has been his friend for more than 20 years, remarks that were widely reported in the Thai media.
“When I go borrowing money, I wouldn’t dare ask anyone where they got that money from,” Somyot said. “Borrowing is borrowing, helping is helping. He helped me and didn’t go anywhere, and the money was returned. The money transfers are in the banking system and can be verified.”
“I see no reason to hide this because I don’t think that this money is illegal. Frankly, I am the type of guy that has many friends. Many people know me. It is not strange at all that I would know Kampol Wirathepsuporn.”
Police said Poompunmuang would be questioned as they continue to investigate Kampol, who has been on the run since a warrant for his arrest was issued in January.
Makudi, the one-time strongman of Thai football and one of those who voted in the controversial ballot for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, was banned in 2016 from all national and international football-related activities for five years by FIFA for election forgery.
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