Thailand

The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) recently said that it needed roughly £1.5m of investment from local businesses if the national team were to stand a chance of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The truth is, even that sounds hugely optimistic.

Thailand was one of the first Asian countries to embrace football – the FAT was established as early as 1916 – but they have never qualified for the World Cup finals. Last time out, they were eliminated from their preliminary group by North Korea and the United Arab Emirates.

Given that context, the reign of Peter Withe suddenly looks like a golden age. The former Aston Villa striker took over as national coach in 1998, after Thailand had been suspended by FIFA for throwing a match against Indonesia so as to get an easier draw in the semi-final of the Tiger Cup (a South-East Asian competition which the Thais have won three times).

Withe managed to change what he saw as negative attitudes, and led the team to Tiger Cup triumph in both 2000 and 2002. They even got to the second phase of Asian qualifying for the World Cup, only for Withe to be dismissed for wearing shorts on the touchline rather than a suit.

If that implies an air of chaos, the suggestion is correct, even if Thailand remain the dominant side in the region. Their domestic structure is similarly confusing, with a new league backed by the Thai government set up this year to run in direct competition to the FAT Premier League. Even more bafflingly, Port Authority play in the Premier, and their reserve side in the new league, while the Telephone Organisation of Thailand plays in both the new league and the second division of the FAT pyramid.

Little wonder Thais pay so much attention to the Premiership. Other European leagues get a look in, but England definitely rules the roost. Swathes of the sporting press are devoted to it, most Thais seem to have a favourite team, and knock-off Chelsea and Manchester United shirts can be bought for a couple of pounds just about anywhere. Even the monks seem obsessed, despite countless warnings from Buddhist elders about the corrupting influence of the game.

Given the interest, it’s not surprising that numerous English teams have tried to exploit the Thai market (not entirely lucratively, given the prevalence of bootleg merchandise) by undertaking pre-season tours to Thailand, which usually feature at least one game against the national side in the 60,000-capacity Rajamankala Stadium in Bangkok.

It’s indicative of the feeling for the English game that the bulk of the support often seems to be behind the Premiership side. Watch out also for double-headers of games in four-team friendly tournaments such as the annual King’s Cup.

Seeing 'live' matches from back home isn’t a problem. Satellite channels show as many as five European games 'live' on Saturdays, while bars in the touristy areas of Bangkok and on the coast stay open until the early hours to broadcast the Premiership. So intense is the passion for foreign football that three Thais died of heart failure watching the 2006 World Cup on TV. Local football isn’t that exciting, but it’s still worth a peek.