The Football Association of Thailand will hold its scheduled election for FAT president on Saturday, hinting on Monday that current FAT president Worawi Makudi may contest the race even though he has been banned from all football activities by Fifa for 90 days.
The announcement was made in a statement issued on late Monday night, just hours after Fifa’s ethics watchdog banned the 63-year-old Mr Worawi from all football activities at national and international level for 90 days for an ethics breach.
FAT president Worawi Makudi
The association said in the statement that the 90-day suspension was based on a “vague allegation” at this stage and it was not yet an ultimate order nor a punishment.
It cited the Fifa’s letter notifying Worawi’s ban that the longt-time FAT president was not yet an offender and still able to appeal against the ban. And Fifa’s ethics committee may uphold, cancel or adjust the ban order after it receives Worawi’s appeal.
“FAT president Worawi Makudi still has the rights to clarify before the ethics committee in person or send written clarifications to the panel,” the statement said.
“According to the hearing procedures, there is still an appeal process and the last step is the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).”
The association vowed to go ahead with the election for FAT president scheduled for Saturday but did not say directly if Worawi, who has been seen as a sure bet to be re-elected to head Thailand’s most influential sports association, would be allowed to contest.
However, it said the Oct 17 election was not the activity facing the ban from Fifa and it was FAT’s internal affair, adding the association must proceed according to its members’resolution.