Some 20,000 free tickets will be available when the Colombian national football team, the fourth in the August 14, 2014 Fifa world rankings, plays against the Thai team in mid-November.
Colombia's national soccer team player James Rodriguez holds the shirt of compatriot Radamel Falcao in Bogota on July 6, 2014. The team returned to Colombia after losing to Brazil during their 2014 World Cup quarter-final soccer match. (Reuters photo)
That is part of the plan of the junta to return happiness to people by having a top-eight world football champion play against the Thai team in Thailand, said Suwat Sidthilaw, permanent secretary of the Tourism and Sports Ministry.
INN News reported the Football Association of Thailand already contacted the Colombian team, with well-known players such as striker Radamel Falcao and midfielder James Rodríguez, to play at Rajamangala National Stadium on Nov 16, a date within the range of acceptable official or friendly matches on the Fifa international match calendar.
The Thai football club also viewed the timing was good because the national team would be preparing for the AFF Suzuki Cup at the time.
Of the 49,000 seats at the stadium, 20,000 will be free tickets given to the people but the eligibility criteria are not known.
Sale of the remaining tickets will be handled by organisers but the prices cannot be too high.
Of the 100-million-baht budget, 40 million is for the players and their travel expenses while the rest is management expenses.
Montri Chaipun, acting governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, said his office had only 60 million baht to spend on the match so sponsorships might be needed.
Peerapong Wattanwongpinyo, deputy secretary general of the FAT, said FAT president Worawi Makudi had talked with the Colombain team which verbally agreed to the offer.
Thailand, however, has yet to receive official confirmation.
Sakon Wannapong, deputy governor of the Sports Authority of Thailand, suggested other options such as the Dutch or Argentine national teams could be explored.
If the Colombian team could not bring its two stars to the match, interest would wane drastically, he said.