After months of war of words and legal struggle, the row over the election for president of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) ended in a farcical manner yesterday.
Virach Charnpanich, standing, and Worawi Makudi, right, at yesterday’s meeting.
FAT presidential candidate Virach Charnpanich accepted the proposed reduction in the number of election voters to 72 from about 180 as recommended by Fifa, during a meeting of representatives of FAT member clubs and Fifa.
Virach and his supporters, including Thai Premier League powerhouses Chonburi FC and Buriram United, had fiercely rejected the new number and demanded that it remain at about 180.
Both sides agreed yesterday that the voters will be 18 TPL clubs, 18 League One teams, six winners and runners-up of Khor, Kor, Ngor cups, and 30 Regional League teams.
The only change from the original version was that representatives of the Regional League will come from the top-five teams of each of the six regions, as opposed to Worawi's proposal that voters from the Regional League were elected.
The issue was the most controversial point in Worawi's proposed changes to the FAT regulations to comply with Fifa statutes. The meeting unanimously adopted the changes.
"All concerned parties agreed to the proposed number of voters," said Virach, a former national team manager.
Virach's group had planned to organise an FAT presidential election today. With yesterday's agreement, today's meeting would be for Virach to offer an explanation to his backers.
Outspoken Buriram United chairman Newin Chidchob, a vocal critic of Worawi, was not at yesterday's meeting attended by about 150 FAT members.
"The problem has ended. We unanimously reached an agreement," Worawi said.
Worawi said he would now seek approval from the Local Administration Department on the FAT's new regulations.
The process should take about two weeks and an election must be held within 45 days of the new regulations being adopted, or by Oct 7, he said.
Both sides agreed to select a five-member election commission to oversee the poll, and work together after the election.
Worawi said: "Virach and I have agreed that whoever wins the election, the other will be ready to help."