Politicians in the TPL, a blessing or a curse?

It's no secret that the Thai Premier League and Thai football in general has become a lot more popular over the last couple of years. This success is to be welcomed: attendances are up, sponsors are getting behind clubs, stadia are being developed and, thanks to the arrival of Robbie Fowler, more big name signings are expected in the future. So it probably shouldn’t come as a surprise, particularly in Thailand, that where one finds popularity and success, one may also find politicians.

According to a recent study in Business Report Thailand a total of 57 clubs out of the 113 that comprise the TPL, Division 1 and the Regional League have links to politicians. And when we say ‘politicians’ we aren’t only talking about elected MPs, but also those who may have been MPs in the past or have links, often familial, to a political party.

The most famous example, of course, is the man often described as the de facto leader of the Bhum Jai Thai party, Newin Chidchob (in case anyone doubted the connection, PEA star player Suchao Nutnum appeared in Bhum Jai Thai election posters). The party had a poor showing at the general election, but Khun Newin can console himself in the knowledge that his Buriram PEA side is top of the league and odds-on to lift the 2011 TPL title. As well as being chairman of Buriram PEA, he is honorary chairman of Buriram FC. The club is flying high at the top of Division 1 and, barring a disaster, will join PEA in the TPL in 2012. Officially, his wife Karuna is chairwoman of Buriram FC. She also leads the chants and songs at BPEA and BFC matches by standing on a platform at the front of the stand, megaphone in hand!
 
That common phrase in Thai politics “de facto leader” can also be applied to Suwat Liptapanlop. He was deputy prime minister in the Thai Rak Thai government, but these days pulls the strings for Chart Pattana Pheu Pandin. In the sporting world he is most famous as being the president of the Lawn Tennis Association of Thailand. Nevertheless, he still finds the time to act as a special advisor to the FAT and he has an intriguingly vague ‘special director’ role at Muangthong United. His image can also be seen (but the man himself rarely can) at his hometown club Nakhon Ratchasima FC.

Muangthong were also graced by the presence of Thailand’s new Prime Minister, Yingluk  Shinawatra, when they took on Samut Prakan United in the FA Cup in July; more pertinently, it was the day when Robbie Fowler was introduced to the public. The PM will probably have her hands rather too full to be getting involved full-time with a football club, but it should be noted that Thaicom is the sponsor of the FA Cup.

Here in the capital, Bangkok United have Aphirak Kosayodhin as chairman. Khun Aphirak, a Democrat, was governor of Bangkok from 2004 to 2008 until he resigned as corruption charges hung over him. United changed the colour of their home shirts from green to orange for the 2011 season, but perhaps they should have chosen light blue as the Democrat Party links don’t end there. Nataphol Teepsuwan, general manager of United, holds the same role within the party. He is also a recently appointed member of the FAT executive committee.

Staying in Bangkok, Thai Port’s vice-president Worapong Tantiwetyanon, commonly known as ‘Big Ben,’ was the Pheu Thai candidate for Khlong Toey and Wattana. He even appeared on election posters wearing a Thai Port shirt, but unfortunately for the Super Rich Company MD the constituency went to the Democrats.

The biggest name in politics involved with a Bangkok club would be a man who isn’t technically a politician at all. We are of course referring to General Prayuth Chan-ocha, the Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army. The General, who was criticised during the election campaign for apparently suggesting to the general public in which way they should vote, is officially chairman of Army United, but it’s unclear how often he can be seen in the stands at the Army Stadium in Din Daeng. However, he did oversee the successful rebranding of the club from Army FC to Army United and subsequent surge in attendances and improved performances on the pitch.
 
Over on the east coast it’s a family affair; the Khunpleum family to be precise. Witthaya Khunpleum, formerly a Chart Thai Party MP in the Thai Rak Thai coalition, and now president of the Chonburi Provincial Administration Organisation, is the long-standing chairman of Chonburi FC. Brother Sonthaya, sports minister in the Thai Rak Thai government, is the boss of Pattaya United and de facto leader of Phalang Chon, a newly formed party which managed to join the Pheu Thai coalition. And another brother, Ittipon, is the mayor of the city of Pattaya.

Dynastic politics are the order of the day in Suphanburi, too. Warawut Silpa-archa, son of former Prime Minister Banharn, is the chairman of Suphanburi FC. Both father and son were banned from politics for five years after the dissolution of the Chart Thai Party in 2008, but Banharn is seen as the de facto head of Chart Thai Pattana and his younger brother Chumpol is the de jure leader. The family put its not inconsiderable clout to good use by bringing in coach Rene Desaeyere. Mr Desaeyere, of course, was the successful head coach of Muangthong United until his surprise sacking at the start of the year. He joined Suphanburi after a short stint at Chiang Mai FC.

These examples are just the tip of the iceberg, but should fans be concerned? Does it matter if politicians want to help out their local team? Of course, the answer to that question depends upon the nature of that “help.” Many of the politicians have a fairly benign role at the clubs they attach themselves to and just act as figureheads without actually putting anything tangible into the club. But the elephant in the room, which many in the game dare not speak about, is the possibility that some of them could use their power, wealth and connections to influence matches, one way or another. If such behaviour came to light, then the resurgence in the domestic game will quickly unravel.

But who will police this issue? Right at the top of the game, Worawi Makudi, the President of the FAT is as political as they get. He came through a hugely contentious presidential election in June at the second attempt (he controversially postponed the first poll in May just minutes before voting was due to commence – many said he was heading for a defeat – he then won the rearranged ballot a month later by an eyebrow-raisingly large majority). Away from the world of Thai-football politics, Worawi is known as being a keen Pheu Thai supporter and was reported to be considering running for the party in the general election. Thankfully, that never came to pass.

With such an example being set by the FAT President, there’s more chance of Thailand winning the next World Cup than politicians being given their marching orders from Thai club football. 

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