Worawi abandons chase for England friendly - for now

By Duncan Mackay

January 3 – Worawi Makudi (pictured), the President of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), has abandoned plans to try to persuade England to play a friendly in Bangkok during their build-up to this year’s World Cup.

The idea had first been suggested to Andy Anson, the chief executive of England’s bid to host the World Cup, when he had visited Bangkok last July to lobby Worawi, who is a member of FIFA’s Executive Committee, who will vote on which countries will stage the 2018 and 2022 tournaments at a meeting in Zurich on December 2.

Anson said at the time: ”We are actively trying to find a date for England to play here in Thailand.”

But the decision was ultimately that of Fabio Capello, the England manager, and he has rejected the idea because he wants to meet opposition in warm-up matches that are similar to those that his side will face in South Africa.

Capello has, therefore, lined-up a friendly against Egypt at Wembley on March 3 and is also expected to arrange matches against Mexico and Japan.

Nigeria’s Dr. Amos Adamu, another FIFA Executive Committee, also wants to play England in a friendly before South Africa.

There could still be pressure on Capello to take England to Bangkok after South Africa, especially if they are still chasing Worawi’s vote.

The English Premier League is hugely popular in Thailand and the national side has had a series of English managers, including Peter Withe and Peter Reid.

Reid, who quit last September to return home to become assistant-manager of Stoke City, was replaced by Bryan Robson, the former England and Manchester United captain.

Worawi said: ”I will try to bring England to Thailand another time.”