Former Thailand forward Sarawut Masuk met Football Association of Thailand president Somyot Poompunmuang on Wednesday after he went missing for a month.
According to a FAT press release, Sarawut admitted that he had a lot of personal and financial problems and wanted the organisation to help him.
While the 29-year-old player accepted that he had debts, he said this had nothing to do with football gambling, the FAT stated.
He and his wife have divorced and mutually agreed to give the custody of their child to her only recently.
The player also claimed he felt stressed after mingling with people who he suspected of having Covid-19. As a result, he went into hiding for fear that he could spread the virus.
Somyot earlier called on him to come out after he had gone missing as reports claimed he received a death threat from the bookies.
Somyot yesterday asked disciplinary committee chief Pol Lt Gen Amnuay Nimmano to find ways to help him.
His disappearance compelled his club Nongbua Pitchaya, which is in Thai League 2, to terminate his contract.
Sarawut was once one of Thailand's brightest young stars.
Sarawut, then a player in Thai League 2, scored the winner in Thailand's win against Indonesia in the 2013 SEA Games final.
After that success, he joined powerhouse Muang Thong United and then Bangkok Glass.
He had a stuttering spell at Bangkok Glass (now BG Pathum) and was loaned to Nakhon Ratchasima and PTT Rayong.
He joined Nongbua Pitchaya this year before the season was suspended last month.