Thai sports minister says he sympathizes with Madam Pang, but can’t provide funds for football association’s $10M debt

He explained on Wednesday that the National Sports Development Fund cannot be allocated for debt repayment, as it is strictly designated for sports development, the Bangkok Post reported.

The FAT is saddled with debt after the Thai Supreme Court ruled last Thursday that it must pay media company Siam Sport 360 million baht in damages, plus interest, over an unfairly terminated contract.

Siam Sport accused the association of breaching its contract in 2016 regarding the broadcasting rights of the Thai League.

Under the agreement, the company was entitled to 95% of the league’s profits, while the association received the remaining 5%.

However, as the league became more profitable, the FAT found its share too low and unilaterally terminated the contract, leading Siam Sport to file a lawsuit.

The incident took place in 2016 during the tenure of former FAT president, Pol. Gen. Somyot Poompanmoung.

Sorawong said the ministry sympathizes with the association and its incumbent president, Nualphan Lamsam, who is famously known as Madam Pang, but can only help by facilitating discussions between Siam Sport and the FAT to negotiate the repayment of the debt.

"The ruling turned out this way that the one who must be held responsible is the association," he said.

Nualphan said in a Tuesday press conference that Somyot’s decision led to a massive financial burden that she now has to deal with.

Bursting into tears, she explained that the FAT had just 27 million baht in its account but was burdened with a debt of 132 million baht when she took office last year.

Additionally, it had taken a 155 million baht loan from FIFA, which requires repayment through annual installments, she said.

She also announced that the association will sue Somyot and its previous board of directors, as reported by Thai newspaper The Nation.

Nualphan, 57, heiress to one of Thailand’s wealthiest families with a net worth of US$890 million, previously managed the national men’s team in 2021-22, during which she spent almost 60 million baht and led them to back-to-back AFF Cup (now ASEAN Cup) titles.

She was elected as the association’s president last February after winning 68 out of 73 votes, making her the first woman in the role.

Somyot, meanwhile, explained to the Thai News Agency that the contract termination concerned the FAT’s right to take care of its benefits and privileges.

The former FAT president, who led it from 2016 to 2024, claimed Siam Sports sued for damages because it purchased a TV broadcasting mobile unit and other equipment in advance, not the broadcasting right.

The right to broadcast Thai League matches had also been granted to cable TV provider TrueVisions, he noted.

Regarding the FAT’s lawsuit against him, he said he is not concerned and is ready to defend himself against accusations.