Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is keeping his favourite team at the Euro 2016 football tournament to himself, but he's not keeping silent about clamping down on gambling on the games.
Gen Prayut refused on Tuesday to tell reporters at Government House which team he is cheering for at the top flight European soccer tournament now being played out in France.
"Let me put it this way, I'm supporting every team," he said. "I am trading with all countries, and don't want to be seen as being biased."
As prime minister, Gen Prayut feels he must be cautious about taking any public stance, because national interests are at stake. It was very different in the days he commanded the army, when he said Germany were his favourite team.
"Sometimes when you love or like someone, you have to keep it to yourself," he said.
The German squad is one of the stronger contenders to lift the Euro 2016 trophy after the team won the Fifa World Cup in Brazil two years ago. The Germans have started well in France with a debut-match 2-0 win over Ukraine on Sunday.
Gen Prayut admitted how difficult it was to put an end to gambling on the Euro 2016 tournament.
"I don't know what to do, because people like betting although they know it is against the law," he said, but he would not give up the fight against gambling.
Police have arrested more than 2,000 gamblers in a campaign against football betting launched before the tournament began on Friday.
The prime minister did drop one small hint. If the public only knew what team he supported - it would be a sure bet, he said.