Match-fixing probe for Thai FA Cup

Match-fixing allegations have come to Thai football, with the FAT taking a close look at last season's FA Cup final between Buriram United and Army United.

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Buriram United chairman Newin Chidchob lifts the FA Cup after his team beat Army United.

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Worawi confirms fixing probe  

Tor Chittinand

The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) will look into an alleged match-fixing attempt in last season's FA Cup final between Buriram United and Army United, FAT president Worawi Makudi confirmed yesterday.

The announcement came after the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) last week informed the FAT of possible irregularities in the November match, which Buriram won 2-1.

According to Worawi, the AFC said Japanese referee Yoshida Toshimitsu, who officiated the match, informed the Asian governing body that he was offered bribes to favour of one of the two teams.

Worawi did not offer further detail but said the FAT would discuss the matter at today's meeting.

"We will set up a committee to look into the issue," Worawi said.

"We will talk to both Buriram and Army before submitting our findings to the AFC and [world football's governing body] Fifa."

Asked why the claim was made public months after the match had been played, Worawi said: "You cannot jump to conclusions. We have to consider a claim carefully to see if there is grounds before publicising it."

When asked whether this development could affect Buriram's campaign in the AFC Champions League, Worawi insisted it was too early to speculate.

He said he would take part in this week's seminar on match-fixing in Kuala Lumpur between the AFC and Interpol.

Meanwhile, Army United manager Col Worawut Withisiri said his club had nothing to do with the allegation.

"Military officers have discipline and we will never resort to ungentlemanly conduct," he said.

"Army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, as Army United chairman, has a clear policy that we must play entertaining football in a straightforward manner."

Buriram chairman Newin Chidchob was unavailable for comment and manager Thatthep Pitakpoonsin is overseas.

Europol, the European Union police organisation, recently said an investigation found that there had been more than 680 suspicious matches worldwide.

fixing – dishonestly arranging something so that it has the result you want ใช้วิธีการอันมิชอบ, เล่ห์เหลี่ยมเข้าคุม
probe – an investigation การสอบสวน
alleged – claimed to be true although not yet proven ที่ถูกกล่าวหา
confederation – a group of organisations that are united การรวมกลุ่มกัน สหภาพ สมาพันธ์
inform – to tell somebody about something, especially in an official way แจ้งให้ทราบ
irregularity – a situation in which the rules, laws, or usual ways of doing things have not been followed การปฏิบัติที่ไม่เป็นไปตามระเบียบปกติ
referee – a person who is in charge of a sports game and who makes certain that the rules are followed ผู้ตัดสิน, กรรมการตัดสิน
officiate – to act as an official in charge of something, especially a sports event  ทำหน้าที่, เป็นผู้ทำหน้าที่
body – a group of people who work or act together, often for an official purpose, or who are connected in some other way กลุ่มคน, นิติบุคคล
bribe – money or a present given to someone so that they will help you doing something dishonest or illegal สินบน
favour – to give an advantage to someone or something, often in an unfair way ช่วยเหลือ
detail – small facts or pieces of information relating to a situation รายละเอียด
matter – something that you are discussing, considering or dealing with  สิ่งที่พูดถึง ประเด็นที่พูดถึง
issue – a problem that needs to be considered ประเด็น
submit – to formally give something to someone so that can make a decision about it ยื่น (เอกสาร) เพื่อการพิจารณา
consider – to give careful thought to something before making a decision พิจารณา
claim – saying that something is true although it has not been proved and other people may not believe it ข้ออ้าง ข้อกล่าวหา
make public – to make information about something generally available เปิดเผย, เผยแพร่
jump to conclusions – to quickly decide about something without carefully considering the facts ด่วนตัดสินใจ, รีบตัดสินใจเร็วเกินไป
grounds – reasons for saying or doing something เหตุผล
publicise – to make information about something generally available เผยแพร่, ประกาศ
campaign – a series of matches in a tournament
insist – to keep saying very firmly that something is true ยืนกราน ยืนยัน
speculate – to consider or discuss what might happen คาดการณ์ อนุมาน
Interpol – an international organization that enables the police forces of different countries to help each other to solve crimes องค์การตำรวจสากล
allegation – an accusation; a statement that someone has done something wrong or illegal even though this has not been proved ข้อกล่าวหา
discipline – the ability to control your actions  วินัย  
resort to – to do something that you do not want to do because you cannot find any other way of achieving something หันมาใช้
ungentlemanly – not polite or pleasant; not acceptable
conduct – the way someone behaves, especially in relation to particular rules or accepted ways of behaving ความประพฤติ
straightforward – clear and honest ตรงไปตรงมา
manner – way ลักษณะท่าทาง, กิริยาท่าทาง, วิธีการ
unavailable – not able to be contacted; not able to talk to people or meet people ไม่สามารถที่จะติดต่อได้, ไม่สามารถหาได้
overseas –in another country ต่างประเทศ
suspicious – making you believe that something is wrong, dangerous or illegal น่าสงสัย
worldwide – throughout the world ทั่วโลก