The election for president of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) went ahead as scheduled after the Administrative Court yesterday (Feb 10) refused to issue an injunction to postpone the polls.
Lt Col Chaisap Tharat Rittem, one of the six candidates, filed a suit with the court on Tuesday (Feb 9) claiming that the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT), the Fifa-appointed normalisation committee and the FAT had violated the FAT regulations.
Lt Col Chaisap asked the court to treat this as an urgent case and called for it to issue an injunction to halt the election.
The Administrative Court considered the case yesterday and turned down Lt Col Chaisap’s request for the court to postpone today’s FAT election.
“I have done everything in the interest of Thai football and for fairness,” Lt Col Chaisap said.
The election took place at Bangkok’s Hua Mak Sports Complex. It was organised by the normalisation committee, chaired by Adm Surawut Maharom.
The other five candidates were Gen Somyot, former national football team coach Charnwit Phalajivin, former national football team manager Thavatchai Sajakul, former FAT secretary-general Pinit Sasinin, and Bangkok FC chairman Natthaphol Teepasuwan.
FAT lawyer Narinpong Jinapak yesterday warned that there could be protests today.
“I am sure that there will be actions from those who are against the normalisation committee because it is violating the FAT regulations,” he said.
There were 72 voters in today’s election – 18 each from the Thai Premier League and League One (second tier), 30 from the Regional League (Division Two, third tier), and six from minor competitions. The FAT presidential election was expected to be a two-horse race between Gen Somyot and Mr Charnwit.
Gen Somyot was backed by Thai Premier League clubs Buriram United, Chonburi and Bangkok Glass, among others, as well as King Power Group, which owns English Premier League leaders Leicester City.
Mr Charnwit was believed to enjoy support from suspended FAT president Worawi Makudi.
The 30 regional voters were originally elected when Mr Worawi was in power. However, the normalisation committee arranged a new election of these voters last month.
Meanwhile, Sukhothai became the last team from League One to be promoted to the Thai Premier League next season after defeating Nakhon Pathom United 1-0 at SCG Stadium yesterday.
Kitsana Kasemkuwilai scored the winning goal for Sukhothai in the 56th minute.
The match was originally played last season at Sukhothai Stadium but was called off due to storm when the home side were leading 1-0. The league then rearranged the match at SCG Stadium.
After yesterday’s win, Sukhothai finished third in League One with 62 points while Nakhon Pathom were fifth with 59 points.
Promoted teams from League One are Pattaya United, Sukhothai and BBCU who were fourth but replace League One champions Police United who are suspended due to financial problems.
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