Courtesy: Bangkok Post


Goverment urged to intervene in Cup

10/10/2012

The Senate committee on sports has urged the government to look after the organising of next month's trouble-plagued Futsal World Cup.

Speaking at yesterday's Senate session, committee chairwoman Naruemol Siriwat said the country's reputation had been tainted by the fact that the Bangkok Futsal Arena in Nong Chok district will not be complete in time for the opening stages of the Nov 1-18 tournament.

''We initially thought the stadium would be complete in time for the tournament but now it will not be,'' she said. ''There is confusion and it seems that all concerned parties are not well-prepared to organise the event such as the Tourism and Sports Ministry, the Sports Authority of Thailand and the Football Association of Thailand,'' Naruemol said.

''I am afraid that the country's reputation could be further hurt so the government should look after it.''

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is repsonsible for the contruction of the Nong Chok arena which was initially slated for the opening ceremony and some first round matches.

The opening ceremony will now take place at Indoor Stadium, Hua Mark.

The Bangkok Futsal Arena is expected to be ready for the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, FAT bosses and national futsal team officials and players yesterday visited Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at Government House.

The group gave Yingluck a special wristband and asked her to preside over the opening ceremony of the 24-team Futsal World Cup.

FAT president Worawi Makudi said concerned parties would vigorously promote the tournament in the final stretch.

He said the Nong Chok arena would be a memorial site to remind Thais that the country has hosted the Futsal World Cup although it will not be complete in time for the opening phrase of the tournament.






Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com