Courtesy: Bangkok Post


City mulls suing Fifa for futsal arena blow

Governor will not quit, Pheu Thai ponders probe

8/11/2012

City Hall is considering suing Fifa over its decision to not use the Bangkok Futsal Arena to host the 2012 Futsal World Cup, as the Pheu Thai Party says it will seek to investigate City Hall's handling of the stadium.

"We're looking at ways to sue Fifa for causing damage to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration [BMA]," said Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra yesterday, after Fifa announced its decision not to use the facility due to safety concerns.

While leading a group of journalists on a tour of the arena, MR Sukhumbhand said he might take legal action against Fifa.

Earlier, he held a press conference to defend the BMA's conduct.

Since Fifa had yet to explain to the BMA specifically why the new futsal stadium was not suitable, all he could do was guess, the governor said.

One possible reason for Fifa's rejection of the arena could be the delay in its construction, he said.

When Fifa picked Thailand to host the Futsal World Cup, construction of the futsal arena was not imposed as a condition for hosting the competition, MR Sukhumbhand added.

The construction was initially estimated to take up to 560 days.

The BMA, however, had managed to shorten the construction period to 286 days and it was completed on Tuesday night. However, the completion was still 16 days behind the original schedule.

A 16-day delay was more or less normal, according to MR Sukhumbhand.

The construction of additional VIP rooms, which Fifa requested, should be completed by today, he said.

"I have to admit the construction was delayed, but the delay was not unreasonable."

The BMA had submitted a copy of a safety verification certificate issued by the Engineering Institute of Thailand as proof to Fifa that the facility met safety standards, he said.

"My apologies to the people that Fifa didn't use the new stadium.

"But I've tried my very best. Getting the construction done in 286 days was a miracle and if anyone thinks that is a failure, I'll respect that and please judge me in the next governor's election."

MR Sukhumbhand said he would not resign because of Fifa's decision.

Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Silpa-archa, meanwhile, said the ministry realised long ago the arena would never be ready in time.

It had warned the BMA right from the beginning that choosing Nong Chok as the location would break Fifa's rules, because the place was too far from the futsal players' accommodation, he said.

Fifa rules say stadiums used in the futsal competition must be within 30 minutes' travelling distance from where players are staying, Mr Chumpol said.

Pheu Thai spokesman Prompong Nopparit said the party may petition the National Anti-Corruption Commission and the Anti-Money Laundering Office to look into the construction budget, contracts and delays.






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