By Andrew Warshaw
July 12 – Thailand is once again facing the possibility of being expelled from FIFA unless the continuing impasse over implementing contentious new reforms can be resolved.
Thailand avoided being thrown out of world football last month when a tiny fourth-tier club, Pattaya, agreed to withdrew a lawsuit that threatened to stop the Thai FA (FAT) from holding elections.
Pattaya had previously won a court injunction blocking FIFA-backed reforms changing Thai federation statutes and slashing the number of voting clubs in FAT elections by more than half – a strategy that was said by critics to be a deliberate electioneering ploy by Thai football chief Worawi Makudi (pictured) to retain his seat amid growing unpopularity.
Makudi, whose two-year term officially ended on June 16, insists the reforms must be implemented before officials can go to the polls but 108 of the 179 FAT members disagree and have signed a petition demanding a fresh ballot takes place first.
They are coming under intense pressure to give ground, however, with FIFA now officially backing Makudi’s position that reforms must take priority.
Makudi, one of the more controversial members of FIFA’s executive committee, has set September 23 as the new election date, which has angered the majority of member clubs who have threatened to go it alone before that date. According to the Bangkok Post, FIFA secretary-general Jerome Valcke has warned FAT against any such plan, strengthening Worawi’s stand.
“We would like to remind you once again that FAT is required to comply with the statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of FIFA bodies at all times,” the paper quoted a letter sent by Valcke as saying. “By holding elections prior to the revised FAT statutes being adopted, FAT would be in violation of the decision of the FIFA Associations Committee.
“Accordingly, we would like to inform you that should FAT attempt to convene an extraordinary congress for election purposes prior to the adoption of the revised FAT statutes, the matter will be referred to the appropriate FIFA body to take appropriate measures against the FAT including the non-recognition of the election and/or immediate and indefinite suspension.”
