Thai FA denies True pullout ‘rumours’
The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) has denied reports that True Visions is planning to terminate the contract to live broadcast the domestic leagues.
Local media reports had earlier said that True Visions Group Co Ltd, which owns the rights to live broadcasts of all Thai football leagues, was planning to end its contract with the national governing body for the sport as there had been no footballing activity in the country since March 3.
All football matches in Thailand have been halted because of the novel coronavirus pandemic and the domestic leagues are tentatively scheduled to resume in September.
The FAT yesterday insisted that reports regarding the TV broadcast contract were “rumours” and “had created a lot of confusion among the clubs and football fans”.
The association clarified in a statement that the country was still under the state of emergency and both True Visions and the FAT had been “in regular contact throughout the hiatus caused by the Covid-19 outbreak”.
“The FAT remains committed to fulfilling all its obligations spelled out in the TV rights contract and we will deliver all the promised events,” the statement said.
“Both the FAT and True Visions remain committed to the well-being of the Thai people according to the government’s policy of tackling the pandemic.”
The FAT added that it had already
officially sought permission from Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to restart domestic leagues behind closed doors if the Covid-19 situation does not become worse in the country and was waiting for a response.
The FAT letter was sent to Gen Prayut in his capacity as chairman of the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) late last month.