They are among five candidates seeking election in the Feb 11 ballot for president of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT).
The five submitted their applications to the Fifa-appointed normalisation committee yesterday (Jan 11) – the last day for candidacy registration – at the Sports Authority of Thailand headquarters in Hua Mark, Bangkok.
The other three candidates are former national team manager Vanasthana (formerly Thavatchai) Sajakul, former FAT secretary-general Pinit Sasinin and Bangkok FC chairman Natthapol Teepsuwan.
However, the trio are seen as outsiders.
Pol Gen Somyot, who reached the mandatory retirement age of 60 at the end of September last year, is backed by Thai Premier League giants Buriram United, Chonburi and Bangkok Glass among other clubs as well as King Power Group, which owns English Premier League side Leicester City.
Charnwit, also a former deputy chief of the Physical Education Department, is seen as Worawi Makudi’s proxy as the incumbent FAT president is not eligible to contest the election.
On Saturday (Jan 9), Fifa’s ethics judges extended Worawi’s temporary suspension for 45 more days over allegations of an ethics breach.
Worawi, who has been FAT president since 2007, was originally suspended for 90 days by the world football’s governing body in October.
But Charnwit, 60, dismissed reports that he represents Worawi’s camp.
“I am a representative of the people of the whole country,” declared Charnwit after submitting his application.
He also rejected reports that his move was made in haste after Worawi’s ban was extended.
He claimed he had always wanted to do this.
“It’s the right time," Charnwit said. “Sometimes you need a disastrous situation to create a hero and we are faced with one of such situations at the moment. I am confident that I will get enough votes.”
His targets include getting rid of disunity in Thai football circles and helping the national men’s team make their first ever World Cup appearance at the 2018 finals in Russia.
Each candidate must name 18 people who would be FAT executives if that person was elected president.
However, Pinit and Natthapol have entered the race independents without naming their teams and saying they can “work with anyone”.
Charnwit’s team include former Thailand striker Piyapong Pue-on, TPL chairman Ong-art Kosinkha, SCG Muang Thong United executive Ronnarit Suewaja and Si Sa Ket FC chairman Thanet Khruarat.
Somyot’s team include Bangkok Glass chief Supasin Leelarit, former national team player and coach Witthaya Laohakul, Ratchaburi FC manager Thanawat Nitikanchana, and Suphanburi FC general manager Nat Chayutiman.
“I want to solve many prevailing problems and bring in member clubs to help manage Thai football,” Somyot said.
Somyot, who is campaigning with his ‘Five Fair’ policy, said all clubs must get what they deserve, especially when it comes to financial and other benefits.
Asked about Worawi, Somyot said he did not see anyone as an opponent.
“Everybody wants to work for the best interests of national football and has to make sacrifices,” he said.
“You have to give and not take. I want to win back the FAT’s reputation.”
There will be 72 voters in the election – 18 each from the TPL and League One, 30 from Division Two (regional league) and six from minor competitions.
Surawut Maharom, chairman of the normalisation committee which has been entrusted with the task of overseeing the Feb 11 election, said the panel would announce the names of eligible candidates on Jan 27 after checking their qualifications.
Meanwhile, Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) governor Sakol Wannapong on Sunday (Jan 10) issued a scathing criticism of Thai Premier League (TPL) decision to expand the top flight from 18 to 20 teams, saying “there is no need for it.”
The TPL executive board’s decision last Wednesday (Jan 6) to expand the 2016 league has been widely condemned and greeted with protests.
Sakol, whose SAT is the government’s sports-controlling arm, said he was “surprised by the decision”.
He, however, made it clear that SAT will “not interfere” in the matter.
The decision has been aimed at avoiding a lawsuit, which remains a possibility should BEC Tero Sasana win a suit filed with the Administrative Court to seek the three points the team were awarded and then denied after a controversial game with Bangkok United.
The 2014 League Cup champions BEC Tero finished 16th in the 18-team league last season and were to be relegated along with Port and TOT.
Last week’s decision means that BEC Tero can retain their place in the TPL in the 2016 season, which is scheduled to get underway next month.
A number of TPL teams, including league winners Buriram United, and fans have condemned the move.
Sakol said, “I do not agree with their decision to increase the number of teams as it will lead to many problems. There is no need for it.”
The governor said he wondered if TPL would have followed the same course in case BEC Tero and Port were not among the relegated teams.
“Why the number of teams hasn’t been increased to just 19 or 21 teams?” Sakol queried. “Is it that the TPL wants to help any particular team?”
Sakol said the TPL would have to find a way out the trouble on its own, preferably by communicating and discussing the issue with all concerned parties.
“This problem can severely deplete the fan base, especially for the clubs at the centre of controversy. The fans will lose faith in the impartiality of the league.
“Our football league is progressing well and it should not be dragged into a mire unnecessarily.”
Meanwhile, Wutthinon Boonwanit, football journalist with the country’s leading Thai-language newspaper Daily News, also opposed the expansion of the premier league.
Wutthinon said increasing the number of teams will crowd the league with even more sub-standard clubs.
“Twenty teams are too many. At present, only the matches between the top five or six teams can truly attract crowds,” he added.
Following the TPL decision, the social media scene has gone abuzz with some strong online reactions from the fans.
An interesting comment on the popular pantip.com website claimed that such an unprofessional way of doing things will not only affect national football but also businesses associated with it.
“The soccer market will suffer severely and revenues for the clubs will also go down,” said the fan.
Another fan added that this action will lead to a catastrophe in Thai soccer and “can steer the Thai Premier League towards disaster”.