By Chris Wright
With the Asian Games kicking off over the weekend, it would appear that the Thailand FA weren’t overly optimistic about their women’s side’s chances at the competition – especially if their financial incentive scheme is anything to go by.
Indeed, the entire Thailand squad were bestowed with a considerable cash bonus following their opening game against South Korea as a reward for only losing 5-0.
“It’s disappointing that we gave away goals so easily in the first half,” Thai FA president Worawi Makudi was quoted by Reuters as telling the Nation newspaper on Tuesday.
“We fared better in the second half. The association had planned to give the team 200,000 Thai Baht (around £3,800) if they won the match, but, for the players’ efforts, we decided to hand them 100,000 (£1,900) as consolation.”
It seems that money is bandied around fast and loose in the high-rolling world of Thai women’s football, with coach Nuengruethai Sathongwien also reportedly offering a 1million baht (approx. £19,000) reward to any player who managed to score against the South Koreans in the second half after her side came in 0-2 down at the interval.
This comes just four months after Worawi gave the Thai team bonuses of 15million baht (approx. £287,000) each after they finished fifth at the Asian Cup in May and subsequently qualified for their first ever women’s World Cup in the process.
It should come to you as no surprise that Worawi, a FIFA executive committee member, has been plagued by allegations of corruption over the past few years since taking up the Thai FA presidency in 2007.
Just thought we should mention that.