Under-fire Makudi loses Thai FA presidency
Reuters - Friday 13 May 2011, 09:04
BANGKOK - FIFA Executive Committee member
Worawi Makudi, who has been implicated in a World Cup bribery
scandal, has lost his job as head of the Thai Football
Association (FAT), local media reported.
The Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) said the postponement
of last Friday's election for the presidency of FAT was illegal,
according to Thursday's Bangkok Post.
Worawi and FAT executive board members called off the
election, claiming several clubs were represented by more than
one voter.
"It was clearly an illegal move," deputy SAT governor Somkid
Pinthong told the Senate committee on sports, the Post reported,
adding any such postponement would require the backing of two
thirds of vote-holders.
As no election had taken place within the 90-day limit after
Worawi's presidency expired at the end of 2010, he had forfeited
his position, Somkid said.
"An election for FAT president must have been completed by
March 31," she added.
"As an election was not held by that date, Worawi and his
executive board members have lost their positions. In fact they
did not even have the authority to call the May 6 election."
He had said the FAT election would be held in the next two
weeks but Somkid said the SAT may do the job.
"Under the law, at least one-third of member clubs can ask
the SAT to call an election for FAT president within 21 days of
their request," she said.
"We do not want to organise such an election but we may have
to."
FAT were not immediately available for comment when
contacted by Reuters but Worawi, who is out of the country until
Sunday, is scheduled to address the media on Monday to discuss
the threat to his tenure as FAT president and role with FIFA.
The 59-year-old Worawi was accused of asking favours for his
vote for the 2018 World Cup by former English FA president David
Triesman in a British parliamentary inquiry earlier this week.
Worawi denied that he demanded control of television rights
for a proposed friendly between Thailand and England in return
for backing England's 2018 bid, according to the Post.
Russia won the hosting rights for the 2018 finals.