Representatives of Muang Thai Insurance (MTI) yesterday delivered a "donation" of 16 million baht to the Football Association of Thailand (FAT).
This came hot on the heels of a refusal by FAT president Pol Gen Somyot Poompunmuang to accept an offer of financial assistance from Thai League 1 side Port chairperson Nualphan Lamsam, who is also the chief operating officer of MTI, for ensuring the use of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) at all Thai League 1 matches.
Nualphan's offer came as three top-league teams -- Port, True Bangkok United and SCG Muang Thong United -- urged the association to continue using VAR at league games.
The FAT had announced it would not be using the technology this season to save costs in the wake of a decline in its revenues owing to a coronavirus outbreak in the country.
Somyot said the financial support due from MTI was for the women's national team and it can't be used to cover VAR expenses.
"We can't use the money on VAR as suggested by Madame Pang [Nualphan's nickname] because it isn't for the purpose," said Somyot.
Earlier, Nualphan argued that MTI had sought to trim its commitment of 20 million baht to 16 million and was, in fact, planning to call off the entire financial support because there were no women's football activities planned this year.
Nualphan told a press conference on Wednesday that her Muang Thai Insurance company was ready to give the FAT 16 million baht for the purpose of using VAR at all Thai League 1 games.
VAR was in use before the season was suspended in March after four rounds of matches due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The campaign will resume on Sept 12 and end in May next year.
Somyot added: "If the Thai League 1 clubs want to use VAR, they must pay [82,000 baht per game] directly to the company that owns and provides the technology in Thailand."