When news that seven Fifa officials were arrested and indicted yesterday to the delight of many, the thoughts of local fans in Thailand turned to their own less-than-popular football chief.
Although Football Association of Thailand President Worawi Mukadi was in Zurich, early news reports that he was among those arrested proved false, and now he’s threatening to sue the media.
“I’m in Switzerland attending the Fifa meeting. There is no truth to the story,” he told Siam Sport.
The four-term president, whose 2013 re-election was unsuccessfully challenged over irregularities, then threatened legal action against those saying otherwise..
“I want to say that anyone publishing a story that isn’t true will be sued for defamation,” he said.
In 2011 a British member of the House of Lords accused Worawi demanding compensation in exchange for his vote to support England’s bid for the 2018 World Cup. Worawi filed an unsuccessful libel suit and Fifa cleared his name.
The dawn raid in which seven top-ranking Fifa officials were arrested were followed by American indictments of 14 sport officials and media executives. They are accused of being involved in endemic, long-running corruption in the organization, involving many millions of dollars.
Photo: Siam Sport
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