Football The Hostage As Top Two Fight It Out

[Lite Beer]

OFF THE MARK

Football the hostage as top two fight it out

Jintana Panyaarvudh

BANGKOK:-- Once a can of worms is opened, it becomes nearly impossible to contain them.

This could be a metaphor for the battle between a big shot in the Football Association of Thailand and a political big gun-turned-football club owner.

The bombshell that Buriram United president Newin Chidchob dropped on the Thai Premier League (TPL) Company, the body that organises the football league in this country, last month will have considerable consequences.

Newin at first questioned TPL chairman Vichit Yamboonruang in regard to the whereabouts of money that the league got from sponsors. Without Newin's concern, the public would not have known about the beneficiary of the top-tier league's commercial benefits.

It was revealed for the first time that Siamsport Syndicate Co, the country's biggest sports media firm, was appointed by the TPL as its financial manager. Siamsport later relinquished its right to oversee the commercial benefits in the wake of allegations of irregularities in the financial management. It was also the first time the public learnt about the TPL's financial report, which showed the 18-club league had made Bt218.4 million in 2011, including Bt8.5 million in profit.

While it appears that Newin wanted to attack Siamsport, his real target was the chairman of the FAT, Worawi Makudi, who is close to Siamsport executives. The sport media has played a vital role in helping promote the league since it was founded.

Worawi appears to have struck back by giving an ultimatum to the TPL clubs to choose between him and Newin. In a press conference last week, Worawi said all clubs had been informed of the terms and conditions ahead of the season, including the benefits they would receive. Any team not content with the terms could withdraw and would be replaced by teams from the second-tier division.

Last Tuesday, Newin and his allies from 12 clubs submitted a letter to TPL, requesting disclosure of all contracts Siamsport signed with the league's sponsors and also broadcasting rights. The clubs' members urged the firm to reconstruct its management board and allow all clubs to have a more participatory role on the board.

Newin and allies also agreed to set up a group, "Thai Premier League Club Allies", for greater cooperation among 18 clubs and show their power to the FAT and TPL. The "allies" was Newin's idea, which is to reduce the TPL and FAT's power. He wants all 18 clubs to become shareholders or board committee members in the TPL like the Football Association, the governing body of football in England. He said club members should be able to participate, consider, set policies and strategy in order to develop Thai football as well as review some regulations of competitions to meet international standards with more transparency.

If he succeeds, there would be a big change in Thai football. It would mean the TPL and FAT would no longer be the sole decision-maker. All matters involving the league would instead will be decided by a board of representatives from all 18 clubs.

Some may doubt Newin's motive behind this, if he wants to replace Worawi. The banned politician from Buri Ram has repeatedly said he has no desire to return to politics or take the top post at FAT.

"I crazily devoted my time to manage a football club because I really want to develop Thai football. Everyone can see how serious I am. It's not child's play," he once said.

It remains to be seen whether Newin's motive is something good or bad for the Thai league.

But beyond all doubt, the showdown between the two men would be a prolonged affair with Thai football as their hostage.

-- The Nation 2012-04-29

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL

Clash of football titans could hurt local league

The Nation

BANGKOK:-- Worawi and Newin could harm domestic competition if not careful

Apirak Kosayodhin expressed concern a couple of years ago while he was chairman of Bangkok United Football Club that the booming Thai Premier League might go bust in the near future. At that time, he was afraid of a "bubble", which so far has not materialised. The domestic league, which was a sort of niche less than a decade ago, has invaded most Thai living rooms through live broadcasts and its grand plans are spelt out on virtually a weekly basis. New, modern-looking stadiums have been built and advertising has been pouring in.

Something arguably scarier than a "bubble" is happening, though. The current face-off between Football Association of Thailand president Worawi Makudi and political big wig Newin Chidchob, who runs league champion Buriram PEA, has got very serious. As they say, when elephants collide, the grass is all trampled. The major victim of the Worawi-Newin clash, it is feared, could be the booming yet fledging football league itself.

It's a big power play by a veteran politician, a man with deep-rooted influences in the football association, and a media giant specialising in sports. Backed by his football club and some allies, Newin has publicly questioned the transparency of the Premier League's 2011 financial management. It turned out that Siam Sport Syndicate, which publishes sport dailies and magazines, was also in charge of the league's finances and ownership rights. The media syndicate is known for its relations with Worawi - and for owning SGC Muang Thong United.

Lying just under the surface of the showdown are attractive financial figures. Worawi responded to Newin's attacks by issuing reports on Premier League earnings and expenditures, not to mention its record Bt218.4million income. TrueVisions and NBT paid the league Bt135.4 million for broadcasting rights and another Bt83 million came from key sponsors such as Yamaha and Advanced Info Service. Spending on operations and marketing totalled Bt209.88 million, leaving Bt8.51 million in profit, which the league split with Siam Sport.

Amid the revelations, the syndicate said goodbye to the league. But Newin wants more, with the support of 13 of the league's 18 teams. He has asked to see the Football Association's earlier contract with Siam Sport. His offensive prompted speculation about a breakaway domestic league. Worawi virtually dared anyone wanting to defect to do so, saying there were plenty of second-tier clubs eager to fill the void.

Some Siam Sport columnists have lashed out at Newin, who at one point was among those credited for being a breath of fresh air in the Thai football scene. The current conflict has no end in sight and is threatening everything from sponsorship to broadcasting to clubs' team-building plans. In short, the whole Thai football landscape has been rattled. It doesn't matter who is right and who is wrong. Thai football, it seems, will pay a price for the Newin-Worawi clash.

The Thai Premier League certainly involves complex and fast-growing business interests and the present conflict may have just unveiled the tip of the iceberg. When the situation calms down, maybe a reform should be undertaken to give the league sound and transparent foundations. As of now, however, it might be a good time for Worawi and Newin to give their heads a shake, if not each other's hand. If both men truly love football, as they always swear they do, they should each take a step back and think about the big picture, not themselves.

There is a poignant Thai saying that can describe it if something worse happens to the Thai Premier League. "Written by hand; erased by foot" could be an analogy befitting the fate of the Thai football. If the league is to suffer a slump after having shown so much promise these past few years, both Newin and Worawi could be held accountable. They may turn from heroes to zeroes, and, unlike soccer players, such an unfavourable tag may be irreversible.

-- The Nation 2012-04-29

[FarangTalk]

Worawi Makudi - have FIFA finished their investigation into him for corruption yet?

You won't find an honest one amongst them I'm afraid.

[LuckyLew]

Same same as politics ...

It is not about the people or the game

It is about money, power, revenge and ego's

[JurgenG]

In 2008, Newin betrayed Thaksin. He was crying on the news, saying he was so sorry but it was for the best of the nation.

I think he's going to have now more reasons to shred real tears

Edited April 29, 2012 by JurgenG

[BirdsandBooze]

Corruption in football is an international problem - illegal bungs to initiate transfers in England, bribes to fix matches in Italy, back handers to FIFA officials in exchange for World Cup hosting rights. At the top level it is no longer the beautiful game. When a clubs main priority to remain in the top flight isn`t to win trophies (because they have no chance of any) but just for the financial hand out from the league what is the point of competition. The EPL and its clubs have even discussed ending relegation.

[rkidlad]

Corruption in football is an international problem - illegal bungs to initiate transfers in England, bribes to fix matches in Italy, back handers to FIFA officials in exchange for World Cup hosting rights. At the top level it is no longer the beautiful game. When a clubs main priority to remain in the top flight isn`t to win trophies (because they have no chance of any) but just for the financial hand out from the league what is the point of competition. The EPL and its clubs have even discussed ending relegation.

Some of the rich foreign owners discussed it. The swift reply was 'NO'. It's never going to happen and it was never discussed in a formal situation.

[bigbamboo]

Corruption in football is an international problem - illegal bungs to initiate transfers in England, bribes to fix matches in Italy, back handers to FIFA officials in exchange for World Cup hosting rights. At the top level it is no longer the beautiful game. When a clubs main priority to remain in the top flight isn`t to win trophies (because they have no chance of any) but just for the financial hand out from the league what is the point of competition. The EPL and its clubs have even discussed ending relegation.

Some of the rich foreign owners discussed it. The swift reply was 'NO'. It's never going to happen and it was never discussed in a formal situation.

I believe only Bolton's Phil Gartside was interested in no relegation but that was from a two division Prem closed shop.

The TPL seems to have been making big strides although Buri Ram's domination must already be a worry. Worawi is Thailand's equivalent of Jack Warner and needs substituting, permanently.