FIFA’s ethics watchdog banned former executive member Worawi Makudi of Thailand for 90 days and indicated he could face further punishment.
The ethics committee acted against the controversial Worawi only days before he stands for re-election as president of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT).
The committee suspended Worawi, 63, “on the grounds that a breach of the Code of Ethics appears to have been committed and a decision on the main issue may not be taken early enough,” said a statement.
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Worawi was a FIFA executive committee member for 18 years until May – including for its 2010 vote for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups – and had faced allegations of wrongdoing.
He was found guilty in July by a Thai court of forgery in his re-election as head of the FAT in 2013. He faces a new election on Saturday.
Worawi told AFP he would fight to save his name and intended to stay in the Thai election even though he is banned immediately “from all football activities at
national and international level for 90 days.”
“I am confused by this, I just heard the news,” he said. “I am not guilty of anything.
Under Thai law I still have the right to appeal (the July court decision). I did not falsify anything, what I did was absolutely legal.
“I don’t want to comment too much now. But this is very bad for my reputation – I will fight.”
He insisted he would maintain his candidacy in the new Thai FA election. “I will stand, I have done nothing but it depends on FIFA.”
It was not immediately clear whether the Thai election would go ahead.
FIFA statutes don’t bar one from heading a football federation & club at the same time ~ Rachier. #SOTNKe @JimmiGathu @MumbiKenya
— Nation FM (@NationFMKe) October 13, 2015
The ethics committee’s adjudicatory chamber did not give details of the breach under investigation. “The case is now the subject of formal investigation proceedings,” it said.
The Asian Football Confederation voted this year to replace him as one of Asia’s representatives on the FIFA executive.
Worawi has in the past been
accused of misusing FIFA development funds, but has always denied the charges and never previously been sanctioned.
British media reports, never confirmed, said Worawi was one of five officials under investigation by FIFA’s ethics committee for alleged misconduct in votes for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
