BANGKOK: Thailand’s controversial football chief on Thursday denied fraud allegations linked to a multi-million dollar broadcast rights deal, the latest in a cascade of claims against him.
Football Association of Thailand (FAT) chief Worawi Makudi, a powerful figure in the Asian game, rubbished accusations by South Korean firm Dae-an 21 that he prematurely canceled an exclusive contract worth $2.4 million a year.
“The fraud allegation is groundless,” Worawi told reporters, in response to the Korean company threatening legal action against the FAT — and its chief — for failing to stick to the terms of the deal.
The FAT had signed a four-year contract with the company from 2007 to 2011, but Worwai said Dae-an 21 broke the deal when it stopped making payments after around a year and failed to respond to queries over the shortfall.
“It (the allegation) is part of an effort to discredit myself and the FAT, I think the FAT should sue back to protect our reputation.” The 60-year-old Worwai, who has been an executive member of football’s governing body FIFA since 1997, has had previous brushes with controversy.
He was cleared last year of accusations that funds meant for the FAT to build football facilities were spent on land he owned in Bangkok.
This week he rejected fears the FAT may be disbanded over alleged links to a profit-making enterprise that ran a football tournament.
In addition Lord Triesman, the former English FA chairman who resigned over a bribe scandal involving FIFA officials in a return for backing England’s World Cup bid, accused Worawi of involvement in the scam.
Asian football has been mired in scandal since last year when a welter of allegations of financial and other misconduct were laid against its chief Mohamed bin Hammam.
Thai chief denies fraud allegations
Thai chief denies fraud allegations
Pakistan drop Babar and Ayub for ODI series against Bangladesh
- The 15-member squad has six uncapped players, including opening batter Sahibzada Farhan
- Abdul Samad, renowned for his aggressive batting in T20s, is one of the other uncapped players
ISLAMABAD: After a disappointing T20 World Cup, Pakistan have dropped seasoned batter Babar Azam and allrounder Saim Ayub for next week’s ODI series in Bangladesh.
The 15-member squad has six uncapped players, including opening batter Sahibzada Farhan, who topped the batting charts at the T20 World Cup with 383 runs. However, Farhan hasn’t played a 50-over game at domestic level since October 2024.
The selectors also dropped allrounders Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan, but surprisingly kept T20 captain Salman Ali Agha in the ODI squad after he scored only 60 runs at the T20 World Cup.
Abdul Samad, renowned for his aggressive batting in T20s, is one of the other uncapped players along with Shamyl Hussain, a 21-year-old opening batter, and Maaz Sadaqat. Ghazi Ghori is the backup wicketkeeper-batter as Pakistan recalled former ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan for the tour.
Mohammad Wasim and Haris Rauf are the two fast bowlers alongside Shaheen Shah Afridi, who will continue to lead the ODI team. Legspinner Abrar Ahmed will be frontline spinner with left-arm wristspinner Faisal Akram the other option.
The three-match series will be played from March 11-15 with Dhaka hosting all the games.
___
Squad: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Haris Rauf, Hussain Talat, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim, Ghazi Ghori, Saad Masood, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Shamyl Hussain.
