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Asian Football Federation gives Thailand 90 days to sort things out!
Thailand has been given a 90 day breathing space to upgrade its facilities or face being dropped as co host next year’s Asian Cup finals with Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia from July 7 to 29, 2007.
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) secretary-general Peter Velappan said that he understood that preparations had been affected by the Kingdom’s political crisis, but he was confident the new Government would support the event adding, “We appreciate there has been a change of government, we have to accept that, but Thailand must respect this deadline and set things in motion.
The new interim Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont has pledged his full support to the tournament at a recent Cabinet meeting.
An AFC delegation visited Bangkok’s Rajamangala and Supachalasai stadiums on Monday and expressed their dissatisfaction with the playing surfaces, floodlights and facilities for players, media and VIP, adding that organisers had done little to promote the event or generate support from the public or sponsors, threatening to allow Singapore to take Thailand’s place.
Velappan though said that he was reluctant to deny Thailand the chance to host the tournament and said he was convinced the new Government would give its full support, but he added, “We have only eight months, it’s not much time, but it was important for me to make sure Bangkok remained as a host, with Thailand a very important part of Asian football.”
The AFC will return to Bangkok on November 15 to monitor progress and will meet on November 24 to make a final decision on whether the four hosts are ready.
Report by The Mole
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