Worawi set to sue Triesman over allegations
Reuters - Saturday 14 May 2011, 10:31
BANGKOK - Embattled FIFA Executive Committee member Worawi Makudi is planning to take legal action
against former English Football Association chairman David
Triesman after being implicated in a bribery scandal.
Worawi also insisted he was still president of the Football
Association of Thailand (FAT), despite reports on Friday saying
the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) had removed him from the
post.
Worawi said Triesman's allegations he had demanded
television rights for a proposed friendly between England and
Thailand in return for his 2018 World Cup vote made in Britain's
parliament last Tuesday had tarnished his reputation.
"The claims Triesman made are groundless and I am putting
together a legal team to fight these charges," he told Reuters
on Saturday.
"I have a very strong case and I will present evidence to
prove these allegations are not true. I don't know why they were
made."
According to Thai media reports, SAT said Worawi's decision
to postpone an election for FAT president on May 6 was illegal.
Because no election had been held within the required time
limit after Worawi's presidency expired at the end of 2010, his
position was void, it said.
Worawi was to have been challenged for the presidency
earlier this month, but the election was postponed when the
executive board said some of the clubs had more than one voting
representative.
But he insisted the election would take place next month and
he was still in charge.
"I am still holder of the position and we will reschedule
the election," added Worawi, one of four FIFA executive
committee members Triesman claimed had asked for favours in
return for votes for England's 2018 World Cup bid.