I won’t be ousted, vows Somyot

By Lerpong Amsa-ngiam 
The Nation

 

Somyot Poompanmoung

 

Football Association of Thailand president Somyot Poompanmoung yesterday vowed to keep his job in order to tidy things up despite attempts to overthrow him.

 

 The football chief addressed reporters at the Sports Authority of Thailand to announce the closure of the Nong Chok National Football Centre on the outskirts of Bangkok.

 

 “There have been attempts to take me out of the presidential post. As long as I remain in power, there will be more lawsuits [against his opponents],” said Somyot.

 

“As a result, I take this opportunity to insist that no matter what will happen in Thai football, big or small, that may lead to rising pressure to make me leave my position, I will not give up my position.

 

 “I will remain in charge until all problems are solved as I’m not certain that anyone who will succeed me will stand up and fight (to solve problems),” he added.

 

 Somyot won the FAT presidential election in February in 2016 and caused a huge stir in Thai football when he cooperated with the Royal Thai Police and Sportradar, a Swiss sports data company, to crack down on match-fixing in the Thai League in November last year.

 

 Players and officials have been found to be linked with manipulating results in the country’s top flight and Somyot earlier this year threatened to reveal more names to police of those involved in match-fixing.

 

 Somyot also hinted he may enter a new arena soon, presumably in politics, with the General Election expected early next year, but promised to never leave the FAT office.

 

 “As long as FAT club members still have trust in me, I will never give up this position. Come rain or shine,” he said.

 

 In terms of the Football Centre, built with a US$1 million-plus budget and used for Fifa’s Futsal World Cup in 2012, Somyot claimed it was inaccessible because the road to the venue, which belongs to an individual, was closed. 

 

The High Performance Training Centre at in Thawi Watthana district in Bangkok, has been used as the FAT training centre since April 2017.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/sports/30356790

 

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-10-20

 

Hey, if you can't trust an ex-cop, who can you trust, right?

 

 

 

(sarcasm alert)

11 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

 

 In terms of the Football Centre, built with a US$1 million-plus budget

Another Million $'s wasted,building a centre that you don't own

access to !!, 

regards Worgeordie

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

 “As a result, I take this opportunity to insist that no matter what will happen in Thai football, big or small, that may lead to rising pressure to make me leave my position, I will not give up my position.

 

“ I will remain in charge until all problems are solved as I’m not certain that anyone who will succeed me will stand up and fight (to solve problems),” he added.

 

So, not going to quit then...

Edited October 20, 20187 yr by Bluespunk

He's a perfect candidate for Thai politics....ex cop...bent as could be...has the right connections...no idea of politics and can disappear people...

2 hours ago, rooster59 said:

Somyot Poompanmoung yesterday vowed to keep his job

The Thai incarnation of Sepp Blatter, maybe. FIFA to FAT; Blatter to Somyot . . . it has all the makings of another goodun'.

How are the investigations into the millions of dollars he borrowed off the naughty club owner going?

7 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

He's a perfect candidate for Thai politics

Careful what you wish for, ChrisY1. He may come a-knockin' on your door before long.

Somyot in a silk suit is still Somyot...