FAT election row drags on

FAT election row drags on

Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Barcelona could cancel their trips to Bangkok if the country is suspended by Fifa as a result of the row over the election of president of the Football Association of Thailand, acting FAT president Worawi Makudi said yesterday.

Worawi called on Pattaya FC to withdraw their lawsuit against the FAT so that the country would not face Fifa sanctions.

Fifa on Monday told the FAT that the Regional League club must withdraw the lawsuit by next Monday or Thailand could be suspended.

Fifa has said the FAT must adopt revised FAT statutes and only then can the election take place.

The lawsuit seeks to prevent the FAT from changing its electoral code.

The FAT was scheduled to vote on its revised charter on Saturday but the event was cancelled following a court order.

Bangkok's Min Buri court last Friday issued an injunction preventing the FAT from considering the matter until the court reaches a verdict in a case filed by Pattaya FC.

Worawi held a press conference yesterday to urge Pattaya FC to withdraw the lawsuit so that the FAT could approve its revised charter and then hold its election.

Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Barcelona are scheduled to play friendlies in Bangkok next month and in August, and Worawi said the matches could be called off if Thailand is suspended by Fifa.

"A suspension would mean we could not have international contact," he said.

"This would mean that we could not play in international warm-up matches. If we are suspended, who would want to have contact with us?"

Pattaya FC lawyer Peemadej Amornsukon said the club would not withdraw the suit.

Worawi's opponents have said the upcoming FAT election must be held by mid-July because Thailand's sports law states that an election of chief of a sporting body must be organised within 30 days of the incumbent's term ends.

Worawi's third two-year term expired on Sunday.

The 61-year-old veteran is also a Fifa executive member.

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