SAT orders Thai FA vote by July 16

The Sports Authority of Thailand has threatened to intervene if the Football Association (FAT) fails to hold its presidential election by July 16.

The FAT had originally scheduled the election for June 15 but postponed the poll in order to approve new Fifa statutes at the suggestion of a Fifa official last week.

The move, however, raised doubts as to whether the association had the right to postpone the vote, with FAT president Worawi Makudi repeatedly claiming it needed to be conducted in accordance with Fifa's new statutes. That prompted Annop Singtotong, the vice president of Thai Premier League club Chon Buri FC, to seek clarification on the issue from the Sports Authority (SAT) yesterday.

SAT governor Kanokphand Chulakasem responded that the Thai FA had acted within its legal rights in postponing the election but warned that it must hold the vote no later than July 16, otherwise his office would intervene.

"The mandate of the incumbent FAT president expires on June 17 and the rules state that the election must be held within 30 days. In this case, the deadline is July 16, so if they fail to hold the election by then we'll stage it ourselves."

Asked about the controversy over the FAT's planned move to reduce the number of voting members, Kanokphand said his office did not have authority to rule on the matter.

"We urge every sports association to abide by international rules. But, they come under the country's own regulations. We cannot do anything if the FAT wish to reduce the number of voting members. However, such a move must be approved by a two-thirds majority of members," said Kanokphand.

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Article source: http://www.thethailandlinks.com/2013/05/21/sat-orders-thai-fa-vote-by-july-16/