Former Fifa executive Worawi Makudi is focusing on Thailand’s general election next month rather than a return to football after he overturned a ban from the sport for unproven forgery.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on Monday revoked a 3 1/2-year ban imposed by Fifa for alleged wrongdoing during an election for president of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT).
Worawi, the FAT president from 2007-15, has entered politics and is No.3 on the party list of Prachachart Party in the March 24 election. He is a deputy leader of the party.
“I feel delighted and thankful for the justice the Court of Arbitration for Sport has given me,’’ the 67-year-old Worawi said yesterday.
He said any involvement in sports, for now, would be dictated by the policies of his party.
He added that he was in no hurry to return to Thai football.
“Actually, I’m always ready and willing to work in the area of sports for the community at large. But I haven’t thought about running for the presidency of the Football Association of Thailand yet.’’
Worawi was accused of altering Thai football statutes before the 2013 FAT presidential which he won.
He was banned from seeking re-election in 2016 won by current FAT chief Somyot Poompunmuang.
Somyot comfortably beat former Thailand coach Charnwit Phalajivin who was reportedly backed by Worawi.
Worawi, affectionately called Bung Yee by the Thai media, was a Fifa executive committee member for 18 years until being voted out by members of the Asian Football Confederations in 2015.
CAS reduced Worawi’s punishment to a reprimand and a fine of 5,000 Swiss francs for failing to cooperate with Fifa investigators.
Asked if CAS’ decision will benefit him in the general election, Worawi said: “I believe people will understand things that have happened to me. But the most important thing is I have proved my innocence from the decision of the CAS and Thai Appeal Court.’’ ap/bangkok post