Worawi Makudi

Worawi Makudi
วรวีร์ มะกูดี
Worawi Makudi in 2015
President of Football Association of Thailand
In office 2007 – 12 October 2015
Preceded by	Vijit Ketkaew
Succeeded by	Somyot Poompanmoung
Personal details
Born	(1951-11-29) 29 November 1951 (age 73) Bangkok, Thailand
Political party	Prachachat Party
Other political affiliations	Pheu Thai Party (until 2018)
Alma mater	Kuwait University
Profession	Politician

Worawi Makudi (Thai: วรวีร์ มะกูดี) (born 29 November 1951), also referred in the media as Bung Yee (Thai: บังยี, RTGS: Bang Yi)^[1][2] is a Thai former football official.^[3] He was a member of the FIFA Council from 1997 to 2015. He served as the Football Association of Thailand's General Secretary from 1996 to 2007, before being elected president in 2007.^[4]

Early life and career

Makudi is a member of the Thai Muslim minority.^[5] He attended Amnuay Silpa School, where he became interested in football and was recruited into the school team. He studied at the Kuwait University, financed by the government of Kuwait, and was selected to join the university's football team.

Makudi served as the Football Association of Thailand Secretary-General from 1996 to 2007, before being elected president in 2007.^[4] He was a member of FIFA Executive Committee from 1997 to 2015.^[3]

In 2021, Makudi became chairman of Thai League club Nakhon Ratchasima.^[6][7]

Corruption allegations

In May 2011, Lord Triesman gave evidence in the British Parliament that Makudi had demanded the TV rights to a friendly between England and the Thai national team in return for voting for England to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup.^[8] This led to an inquiry set up by the Football Association, where Triesman repeated the allegation of corruption by referring to his parliamentary evidence. Makudi then tried to sue Triesman for libel, claiming that the allegations were not true and that his reputation had been tarnished.^[9][10] However the case was dismissed on the grounds of abuse of process,^[11] which was confirmed by a higher court.^[12]

Ban and overturn

In October 2015 Makudi was suspended by FIFA Ethics Committee from all football activities for 90 days.^[13] In February 2016 he was banned by FIFA Disciplinary Committee for three months after it was found that he had breached the previous ban.^[14] In October 2016 Makudi was banned by FIFA Ethics Committee for five years and fined 10,000 Swiss Francs for forgery and falsification.^[15]

Makudi successfully appealed the ban in 2018 and was overturned in 2019.^[16]

References

1. "บังยี" พ่ายยับ ! ชวด "ประธานเอเอฟซี" [""Bung Yee" loses AFC presidential election"] (in Thai). Daily News (Thailand). 2013-05-02. Retrieved 2014-08-28.
2. "Bung Yee re-elected FAT head". Thai PBS. 17 October 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
3. "FIFA Executive Bodies : MAKUDI Worawi". FIFA. Archived from the original on June 26, 2011. Retrieved 13 November 2013.
4. "Soccer-AFC presidential candidate Worawi Makudi". www.yahoo.com. Reuters. Retrieved 10 July 2013.
5. Jens Weinreich: Millionen-Deals in der Fußballfamilie. Deutschlandfunk, 13 September 2011.
6. Chittinand, Tor (17 September 2021). "Worawi back on scene as Nakhon Ratchasima boss". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
7. "Swat Cats greet new boss Worawi with win". Bangkok Post. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
8. David Bond. Triesman claims four Fifa members sought 2018 bribes BBC Sport, 10 May 2011.
9. BBC. Worawi Makudi takes legal action against Lord Triesman BBC Sport, 14 May 2011
10. Owen Bowcott and Owen Gibson Football libel case could undermine parliamentary privilege, says MP The Guardian 10 October 2013
11. Dato Worawi Makudi v Baron Triesman of Tottenham in the London Borough of Haringey [2013] EWHC 142, (01 February 2013)
12. Owen Bowcott Lord Triesman cannot be sued for libel by Thai official, court of appeal rules The Guardian 26 February 2014
13. Conn, David (2015-10-12). "Thailand FA president Worawi Makudi gets 90-day football suspension". The Guardian. Retrieved 2016-05-31.
14. "FIFA says Thailand's Makudi banned for three months". Reuters. 2016-02-22. Retrieved 2016-05-31.
15. "Former Thai FA head Worawi banned from football for five years". Reuters. 2016-10-18. Retrieved 2016-10-19.
16. "Former Thai football chief Worawi Makudi has FIFA ban overturned by CAS". Sky Sports. 2019-02-11.