FAT secretary-general Worawut Thongsringam announced in a statement issued yesterday (Jan 20) that there are now four candidates in the Feb 11 election.
The quartet are Thavatchai Sajakul, Charnwit Phalajivin, Pinit Sasinin and Chaisap Tharat Rittem.
Worawut claimed former national police chief Somyot was ineligible because he did not register his candidacy at the FAT office as stated in the agency’s regulations.
Somyot submitted his application to the Fifa-appointed normalisation committee at the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) headquarters.
Somyot is backed by Buriram United, Chonburi and Bangkok Glass, among other Thai Premier League clubs, as well as King Power Group which owns English Premier League side Leicester City.
Surprisingly, Charnwit, who is seen as suspended FAT president Worawi Makudi’s proxy, also submitted his application at the same place.
Moreover, it is unclear if Worawut is still in power or not because Fifa removed the entire FAT executive board last year after suspending its chief Worawi for breaching the ethical code of the sport's ruling body.
At the same time, Fifa appointed a normalisation committee, chaired by Surawut Maharom, to organise the election.
The candidacy registration ended on Jan 11 and Surawut said his panel would announce the names of eligible candidates later this month after checking their qualifications.
Meanwhile, Somyot yesterday called on Surawut to look into a clip believed to be a meeting between Worawi and Charnwit.
Somyot said a person who has been banned from football activities cannot give support to a candidate in the FAT election.
He also urged voters not to “row a boat for a thief.”
Meanwhile, Thai Premier League side Muang Thong United have sacked coach Dragan Talajic following a disappointing season, the club said.
Police United coach Totchtawan (formerly Tawan) Sripan is expected to succeed Talajic.
Under Talajic, the Kirins finished second to Buriram in the TPL last year and also lost 3-1 to their bitter rivals in the FA Cup final.
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