Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Time For A Committee
The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) will launch an internal investigation into allegations of corruption in the organisation, said FAT vice president PolGeneral Worapong Chewpreecha .
A Senate committee on sports alleged last week that three highranking officials at the FAT took bribes and unilaterally appointed a referee for a Thailand Premier League match.
Criticism started to pour in from different quarters when the FAT failed to react to the allegation. Worapong, who oversees the organisation's antigraft measures, said the association was serious about fighting corruption, and denied ignoring claims.
"We've always taken things seriously when it comes to stamping out corruption from the game. We sent our officials to inspect as many games as possible, from Division One to the topflight TPL. We keep a close eye on people, and referees in particular."
Worapong insisted that anyone found guilty in relation to the Senate committee's allegations would face severe punishment.
"Board members were quick to discuss the matter after the allegation emerged. We have already started an investigation. If there is concrete evidence on the bribes issue, punishment will follow regardless of the position the miscreant holds."
Sources inside the organisation said the association is likely to suspend the three officials in question pending investigation. The Senate committee claimed the names of the three begin with "P"
# posted by Me @ 4:19 PM 
