FIFA panel suspends, fines Thailand's Worawi

FIFA's disciplinary committee on Monday banned the former head of Thai football Worawi Makudi for three months and fined him 3,000 Swiss francs ($3,000, 2,700 euros) for violating the terms of a previous suspension.

Worawi was replaced as head of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) in a vote this month after a long scandal-filled tenure.

FIFA initially banned him for 90 days in October over ethics violations and extended that suspension by 45 days last month.

A FIFA disciplinary on Monday found that Worawi "was still involved in FAT affairs" during his initial three month suspension, breaching the terms of the ban.

Worawi, a FIFA executive committee member for 18 years until May, has faced multiple allegations of wrongdoing.

He was found guilty in July by a Thai court of forgery in his reelection as head of FAT.

He has denied all wrongdoing and frequently responded to his critics and rivals with public bravado.

Worawi was for years a staunch ally of disgraced FIFA president Sepp Blatter, who has been banned from the football for eight years over ethics violation.

In the February 11 FAT presidential election, Worawi is believed to have backed former Thai national team coach Charnvit Pholchivin.

But, in a rebuke of the Worawi's influence, Charnvit was trounced by ex-Thai police chief Somyot Poompanmoung, who took 62 of the available 72 votes.

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