Worawi threatensto sue media
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The Football Association of Thailand president Worawi Makudi is threatening to take legal proceedings against the press at home and abroad for running false reports that he is one of the six Fifa officials arrested in Switzerland over corruption charges.
A Sky News report said the Thai FA boss was one of the six suspected by US authorities of having received alleged bribe worth more than US$110 million over two decades. However, it emerged that Worawi, already in Switzerland to attend the meeting as the country’s representative after losing his seat on Fifa executive committee at the end of last month, was not among those arrested and detained by Swiss police pending extradition to the United States.
[Click here to see details of those arrested as announced by the US Department of Justice.]
“I am in Switzerland and waiting to attend the Fifa meeting. There is nothing true about the story. It’s not me who was arrested. Those were CONCACAF and South American officials. Anyway, I know nothing at all about what happened.
“I would like to make it clear that should anyone publish a story that is not true I would sue for any defamation,” the 63yearold Worawi said in video interview posted on website siamsport.co.th.
Thai FA’s lawyer, Narinpong Jinapak, said the association is taking up the matter seriously and will take legal action against those running the story relating to Worawi without checking the facts.
“The FAT’s legal department already had talks with Worawi. What has happened caused severe damage to his reputation as well as the image of the country. He wanted us to take legal action against those running the story. It is a serious case of defamation,” said Narinpong.
