by Matt Riley
March,2014
When looking back on the testimony of Japanese official Yoshida Toshimitsu who claimed that, in the November 2012 FA Cup final between the Uniteds of Buriram and Army, he was offered a bribe to favour one team, one question won't go away: why would he lie? No stranger to controversy after his indefinite suspension in 2005 for two key decisions favouring the oil rich Bahrainis at the expense of Uzbekistan, he must have known that, already three years older than the mandatory retirement age of forty five, another controversy could end his career in ignominy. A face saving "injury" or minor illness would avoid controversy, but he chose to raise a flag.
Of course the carpet was also quickly raised and the brush applied as Worawi Makudi scurried to his chums at FIFA three months later where he waits, fifteen months on, for "more investigation". In a moment of clarity, he admitted:
"My comments at this point will not do any good for the two teams."
And so,it appears, it remains. In the saturated FAT hierarchy, referees come below myriad faceless "advisors," the division 3 organising committee and the bizarre sounding "Courtesy and Protest Committee." As the FAT Front of House, why are referees so badly served? Putting aside that the official FAT photograph of the Secretary General (when it suits him) Worawi Makudi seems to have been taken in early 1968, this huge bureaucracy factory may look comical, but its bloated body hides a sinister understanding: keep referees down. With skills and training come confidence and collegiality. Bringing in foreign referees for high profile games cuts them off at the knees to validate an assumption by fans that they are incompetent and untrained. This becomes a self fulfilling prophecy, so that when outrageous "errors" occur, they can be hidden behind the smokescreen of consistent incompetence and the officials learn that incompetence pays.
But once that small fire is put out, another starts to take hold. Only eight weeks ago, goal.com reported how two Thai former FIFA World Cup referees Prachya Permpanich and Pirom Anprasert alleged that figures within Thai football were manipulating the results of game for their own means and forcing referees to go along with it. Pracha eloquently explained the double bind that officials find themselves in:
"Every one involved has to ask themselves how much they know about a referee's job. What are they exactly working for? Is it their own interest? Right now referees have to accept these 'ugly assignments' (instructions from authorities). They don't want to, but if they refuse, that will cost them more than they can bear. They have to do it for their kids, their wife, for their living."
Prion added a chilling note to illustrate what Thai football is up against:
"You either obey or you're out. We're heading in to the dark ages."
Manipulatively and callously, the FAT know that referees are a soft target. These men in black will always be a focus for fan irritation and ire, but we are being fooled into venting all our anger at these husbands, sons and fathers who officiate with one eye on the pitch and one in the stands.
Imagine, if you will, that one club generated so much power within the FA that they could influence poorly paid and vulnerable referees to award key decisions in their favour. For minimal cost in the cash drenched world of Thai football they could tip the balance of games and seasons firmly in their favour. I know it's hard to believe, but it may happen one day...
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