The Sports Authority of Thailand’s governor said Tuesday that Fifa-banned Worawi Makudi should be barred from contesting the Football Association of Thailand election Saturday.
"The FAT's election for a new president on Oct 17 should proceed according to the schedule and, in Mr Worawi's case, I personally think he is disqualified to compete because the Fifa order took effect immediately," Sakol Wannapong said.
SAT governor Sakol Wannapong
The international football federation's ethics committee on Monday banned the 63-year-old Worawi from all national and international football activities for 90 days for an ethics breach that will continue to be investigated.
The FAT announced late Monday night, however, that it would hold its scheduled presidential election and hinted that Worawi may run despite the Fifa suspension, which he plans to appeal.
Mr Sakol warned that if Worawi insisted on standing Saturday's poll, it would negatively impact Thailand's domestic leagues and the national football team.
"I want Worawi to back off first and [FAT] should not throw out the election because there are two other candidates," Mr Sakol noted.
Previously, most observers predicted Warowi would be re-elected to head the country's most influential sports association in a race against 73-year-old former national team manager Vanasthana "Thavatchai" Sajakul and Pisan Jundilok, a regional police chief.