Fifa threatens to suspend Thai FA over election row

The FAT had planned to hold a vote to seek approval of the association’s new regulations at its meeting on Saturday. They would then schedule a presidential election after incumbent Worawi Makudi’s third two-year mandate expired on Sunday.

However, the Thai FA had to call off the meeting after the fourth-tier Thai club successfully secured an injunction issued by Min Buri court that prevented a vote to approve the FAT’s new rules. The court move resulted from concerns that the amendment to the regulations to bring them into line with Fifa’s new statutes might result in a reduction in the number of members eligible to vote for a new president.

The cancellation of the meeting prompted Worawi, a member of Fifa’s powerful executive committee, to seek intervention by the sport’s governing body to sort out the situation.

In a letter dated June 17, seen by The Nation yesterday, Fifa regarded the Thai club’s action as a breach of its rules and demanded a withdrawal of the suit by June 24 – otherwise the country would face suspension from taking part in its activities and competitions.

“Pursuant to Art. 68 Par. 2 and Par. 3 of the Fifa statutes, recourse to ordinary courts of law is, as a general rule, prohibited and FAT shall impose sanctions on parties that fail to respect the aforementioned obligation.

“By pursuing their action before an ordinary court of law, the club’s behaviour prevents FAT from managing its affairs independently and undermines the competent decision-making bodies of FAT, which is clearly contrary to the above obligations,” read the Fifa letter sent to Ong-arj Kosinkar, the FAT secretary-general.

Fifa insisted the FAT must first approve the revised regulations in accordance with its new statutes before the presidential election could take place. It warned, however, that failure to hold the poll by the end of September would also mean possible sanctions against the country. 

“In accordance with the decision of the Fifa Associations Committee on February 14, 2013, FAT must adopt revised FAT statutes and only then can the election take place, and by no later than 30 September 2013.

“Failure to respect this decision would again mean the matter would be referred to the competent Fifa body to take appropriate measures.”

Pattaya FC said yesterday it had already withdrawn a suit against Worawi as the second defendant, as it deemed he could no longer legitimately run the association following end of this term. However, they have not yet dropped the case against the FAT as the first defendant, meaning the country could possibly face a suspension should they fail to do as requested by Fifa.