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CORRUPTION

Thai football boss faces further Fifa suspension

Fifa's disciplinary committee on Monday banned the former head of Thai football Worawi Makudi for three months and fined him 3,000 Swiss francs ($3,000, 2,700 euros) for violating the terms of a previous suspension.

Thai football boss faces further Fifa suspension
Worawi Makudi was initially banned in October. Photo: Pornchai Kittiwongsakul/AFP

Worawi was replaced as head of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) in a vote this month after a long scandal-filled tenure.
   
Fifa initially banned him for 90 days in October over ethics violations and extended that suspension by 45 days last month.
   
A Fifa disciplinary on Monday found that Worawi “was still involved in FAT affairs” during his initial three month suspension, breaching the terms of the ban.
   
Worawi, a Fifa executive committee member for 18 years until May, has faced multiple allegations of wrongdoing.
   
He was found guilty in July by a Thai court of forgery in his reelection as head of FAT.
   
He has denied all wrongdoing and frequently responded to his critics and rivals with public bravado.
   
Worawi was for years a staunch ally of disgraced Fifa president Sepp Blatter, who has been banned from the football for eight years over ethics violation.
   
In the February 11th FAT presidential election, Worawi is believed to have backed former Thai national team coach Charnvit Pholchivin.
   
But, in a rebuke of Worawi's influence, Charnvit was trounced by ex-Thai police chief Somyot Poompanmoung, who took 62 of the available 72 vote

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CORRUPTION

Barçagate: Police raid FC Barcelona offices and arrest former president

Police raided the offices of FC Barcelona on Monday, carrying out several arrests just six days ahead of the club's presidential elections, a Catalan regional police spokesman told AFP.

Barçagate: Police raid FC Barcelona offices and arrest former president
Barcelona's former president Josep Maria Bartomeu is among the arrested. Photo: Josep Lago/AFP

Spain's Cadena Ser radio said one of those arrested was former club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who resigned in October, along with CEO Oscar Grau and the club's head of legal services.

But the police refused to confirm names, saying only “arrests are taking place” and adding that the operation was being run by officers from the financial crimes unit.

“We are in the process of carrying out an operation right now with agents of the financial crimes unit,” the police spokesman told AFP.

According to reports in the Spanish media, the operation is linked to last year's investigation into the 'BarçaGate' scandal, which saw the club deny hiring a company to criticise current and former players on social media to improve the image of the then-president Bartomeu.

Cadena Ser said Barca paid €1 million in six separate invoices to the company I3 Ventures, with whom the club have since cut ties.

Bartomeu resigned in October, after mounting pressure following months of controversy and a dramatic decline in performances on the pitch.

His successor is due to be elected on Sunday, when club members will choose between the final three candidates, Joan Laporta, Toni Freixa and Victor Font.

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