Fourth-Tier Thai Club Drops Lawsuit, FA Thailand Avoids FIFA Ban

Thailand avoided FIFA sanctions "after a lowly fourth-tier club withdrew its lawsuit" to stop FA Thailand "from going ahead with controversial electoral reforms," according to Sudipto Ganguly of REUTERS. FAT CEO and FIFA Exec Committee member Worawi Makudi "was forced to postpone the presidential elections indefinitely" due to the court injunction after fourth-tier Regional League side Pattaya FC filed a case. The argument centers on a FIFA-backed reform that "would slash the number of eligible voters from around 180 to 72" (REUTERS, 6/24). The BANGKOK POST reported FIFA said in a letter to the FAT last week that Pattaya "must withdraw its lawsuit by today or the country could face consequences." The FAT "must adopt its revised regulations" to be in line with FIFA statutes and then "hold an election for its president" by Sept. 30 (BANGKOK POST, 6/24).