Most FAT clubs ready to boycott vote on revised rules

A group of 108 clubs that had asked the FAT to hold overdue presidential elections in accordance with Thai law yesterday hosted a meeting at the Thai Army Club but did not conduct a vote to find the new head of the Thai FA as planned. 

The number of clubs in attendance at the meeting increased from 108 to 132, contradicting reports of a break-up of the group, led by Thai Premier League club Chon Buri FC’s vice president, Annop Singtothong.

Several key figures in Thai football such as Buriram United president Newin Chidchob and former FAT president Vijit Getkaew participated in the meeting, which was also attended by representatives from the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) and the Local Administration Department as observers.

Virach Chanpanich, one of the candidates running for the Thai FA’s presidency, said the group had passed a resolution not to hold the election for the president themselves because they feared such a move might have a legal flaw. The group opted to follow the guidelines set by the SAT and pleaded with the members to be patient as they believed a vote could be staged by August 24.

Virach also threatened that his group would stage a walk-out from the poll if any of the members was not allowed to vote.

 “We’ll assess the situation on the day. If one of us is stopped from attending the meeting, we, as a group, may walk out.”

Outgoing FAT president Worawi Makudi, whose two-year mandate expired in mid June, has always maintained that the association needs to approve its revised rules first, and only then can the vote take place.