FIFA Receives Documents from Worawi Makudi Defending Allegations

FIFA has revealed that Football Association of Thailand (FAT) general secretary Worawi Makudi has sent documents to defend allegations of misuse of FIFA funds.

Makudi has strongly denied allegations that FIFA grants were used to build a training centre on land he owns. FIFA last month wrote to Makudi, generic an Executive Committee member, ampoule asking him to respond to allegations of misuse of Goal programme funds in an area in which he owns several plots of land. Makudi has previously told Thai media he had signed over the land to the FAT, ambulance but concerns over a potential conflict of interest could lead to FIFA instigating an Ethics Committee inquiry.

Makudi has now supplied documents supporting his argument to FIFA with BBC Sport reporting that  world football’s governing body will take “a few days” to examine the evidence. Grants totalling £542,000 ($867,384) from FIFA’s Goal programme were used to build Thailand’s national football centre, along with an artificial pitch.

In May Makudi was named in British Parliament by former Football Association chairman Lord Triesman as one of four FIFA members who sought “bribes” in return for supporting England’s failed 2018 World Cup bid. FIFA subsequently dismissed Lord Triesman’s allegations.