FAT denied to restart Thai League in two-week time

His comments came after TrueVisions, the broadcast rights holder, sent a letter to the FAT last week asking for Thai League 1 to resume in 14 days. The company said it has the right to pay only part of the broadcast fees, and threatened legal action if the FAT fails to do as requested. The season was suspended in March after four rounds of matches due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

The FAT and clubs have agreed for the campaign to restart in September and end in May next year. TrueVisions said the new schedule would affect its programming as the contract states the league must end this year.

Somyot said the season could resume only when the government's Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) completes its guidelines of saftety protocols for football competitions.

Also, several foreign players still can't return to Thailand due to travel restrictions, Somyot said.

Somyot urged TrueVisions bosses to hold talks with FAT executives to solve the problem.

TrueVisions holds the broadcast rights of all league and cup competitions organised by the FAT.

The deal, awarded to the firm when Worawi Makudi was FAT president, expires this year.

A bid for the next round of broadcast rights was held last year.

Somyot, who has been FAT president since 2016, earlier said the bidding process was complete but he has not yet announced the winner.