Thailand V England 2009 Denied By F.a

[thaimiller]

FA - Thailand friendly unlikely

Thai FA claimed match would take place next year

The Football Association has announced that England have not agreed to play Thailand in a friendly next year.

The president of the Thailand FA had claimed that England were set to play a friendly in the country next year.

Worawi Makudi, a Fifa executive committee member, revealed that he recently met with FA board director David Richards.

Worawi said Richards expressed an interest in arranging a one-off match between England and Thailand for sometime in 2009.

"He pledged to send the England team to play against us," Worawi told the Daily Xpress newspaper.

"Thailand will be the only destination on that trip.

"I'm delighted we will get the opportunity to watch England for the first time."

The FA has been quick to clarify the situation and confirmed that, while a conversation between the two officials did take place, a friendly is unlikely to be scheduled.

A spokesman said: "Further to comments made by the president of the Thailand Football Association Worawi Makudi, the FA today stressed that they do not expect to play Thailand in a fixture next year. Mr Makudi is quoted as saying that FA Vice-Chairman Sir David Richards has agreed to such a fixture.

"While Sir David has confirmed he was asked about the possibility of England travelling to play in Thailand by Mr Makudi earlier this week, he made it clear to Mr Makudi that any fixture requests would have to be discussed by the appropriate departments within the FA and Fabio Capello before any fixtures can be agreed. Sir David wishes to make clear that he did not agree to the fixture.

"The England team's fixtures for 2009 are already arranged in principle and the only dates that could become available are in November 2009 - if England win the World Cup qualifying group and avoid the play-off fixtures.

"If England do find themselves as group winners, it is not expected we will play Thailand in November."

Former Sunderland manager Peter Reid took charge of the Thailand national team last month after being recommended for the role by the FA.

Thailand have already been eliminated from the Asian qualifying competition for the 2010 World Cup.

[AlKing]

I think England is PlSS off Thaksin ManCity deal. Hence ...

Wow, I managed to link it to Thaksin again.