FAT must follow new Fifa regulations in letter and spirit
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The saying goes that every cloud has a silver lining. There are signs that things are looking up for Thai football as the election of new president of football association will be held under a new regulation regarded as revolutionary in the football world
The annual meeting of Football Association of Thailand (FAT) last Sunday agreed in principle to extend the term of its president from two to four years, bringing it in line with Fifa’s new charter.
“Fifa asked all members worldwide to improve their regulations to go along with the new Fifa rules. If we won’t follow them, we may not be able to join several sports competitions,” president of the FAT, Worawi Makudi, said after the meeting.
Fifa, the world football governing body, proposed several changes to its charter in a bid to make itself more transparent and accountable following a string of corruption scandals in recent years. Fifa is due to vote on its proposed changes at its congress in Mauritius in May.
The changing of a president’s term in line with Fifa’s requirement needs an amendment in the Thailand Sport Act. The term of the president of any sports association in Thailand is normally two years.
If Fifa passes its new charter, FAT need to propose changes to Thailand’s sports laws, Worawi said. If the law is amended before June, the next election of the head of the FAT will be held under the new rules.
“It means the newly elected FAT president will stay in the position for four years,” the current president of the FAT, who is expected to seek re-election in June’s election, said.
Apart from extending the presidential term, reduction in the number of eligible voters will also be dealt with during the FAT elections. At present, 179 members have the right to vote in the FAT elections but with the new regulations in place, only 72 members from clubs concerned will be eligible. Moreover, all 19 executive members of the association will be elected and not selected.
It was good to see Thailand endorsing Fifa’s new charter, which had come in for praise from its members for its reformatory zeal.
However, there were some interesting new rules regarded as revolutionary in the world of football but was not discussed during the FAT meeting – the limit of two four-year terms for the Fifa president and an age limit of 72.
In fact, the term limitation will prevent monopoly of power and encourage a generation of new leaders to step in. In modern democracies, leaders have a limit to their term in office, mostly two terms of four years each.
The Fifa president currently serves an unlimited number of four-year terms with 76-year-old Sepp Blatter, the incumbent, currently serving his fourth term. Thai football chief Worawi has been in office for the past six years and will be finishing his third team. Worawi faced a tough task in the previous election but somehow scraped through.
Another new Fifa rule is aimed at tackling corruption, especially vote buying during the association’s election. The body has set a harsh punishment for those who commit fraud in the elections. The maximum penalty is a ban for life from football.
If the Thai football governing body is determined to restore the reputation of Thai football, it should follow Fifa’s new rules in tackling corruption in letter and spirit.
