Crises leave Thai football at a crossroads

With Thailand lately on its front foot and, for the first time ever, standing a great chance of qualifying for the World Cup finals, the timing is right for the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) to have a new president.

The national team has endeared itself to fans and been granted their faith in return, but the public adoration does not extend to the team’s management. The governing body has been dogged by controversy for years. It’s time to 

 leave that behind and focus on goals on the pitch.

While numerous commentators are optimistic that a new president would bring about positive changes, there are just as many sceptics cautious of predicting positive results before the final whistle blows.

 The 72 board members of the FAT will elect a new chief on February 11 amid two separate tumults. In one case, the big players in the popular Thai Premier League stand to be divided. The other concerns the ban imposed on embattled FAT president Worawi Makudi. 

The FAT has abruptly decided to expand the top-flight league from the current 18 to 20 teams, prompting complaints that certain teams stand to benefit while others will suffer. Under the new line-up, BEC Tero Sasana, which finished 16th on the table, is allowed to remain in the Premier League, while TOT and Port clubs will stay only if they win play-offs. The FAT ended up facing a lawsuit threat from the TOT club.

Preparations for the 2018 season have thus been thrown into disarray. The league’s rising popularity has come at a high price. The better Thai football does commercially, the more problems it seems to encounter thanks to sloppy management. The league’s unexpected expansion can hardly be healthy for its further development. 

Worawi’s troubles began when Fifa’s Ethics Committee barred its former executive member from all football activity, prompting the FAT abruptly postpone its election for a new president. This decision also sparked criticism, since it allowed Worawi to retain the Thai post – which he’s held since 2007. His hope of a comeback died on Monday when Fifa extended his suspension by another 45 days, ruling out any chance of the four-term president being eligible to continue.

It will be an interesting elec

 tion without heavyweight Worawi in the running. The remaining candidates are Pinit Sasinin, Nattaphon Teepsuwan, former national-team coaches Tawatchai Sajjakul and Charnvit Phoncheewin and former police chief Somyos Pommpanmuang. 

Early predictions see a two-horse race between Somyos and Charnvit. The latter is suspected of being a proxy for Worawi, in part because almost half his proposed administrative team served Worawi. Charnvit denies any allegiance and promises to bring experience and expertise to the job. The changes he has in mind owe no debt to anyone, he says. 

The fate of Thai football relies heavily on the 72 members casting votes. It’s too early to say where Thai football will go from here, but the fans hope doubtful rules and regulations become things of the past. We need transparent and capable management if we are to reach the international level. Young talent and established stars alike are discouraged that management is foundering. The last thing we need is a return to nepotism in any form. It would only destroy the potential we’ve accumulated thus far.