Thaksin to miss cup clash as he fights threat of extradition

Saturday, August 16, 2008 by Editor

Thaksin Shinawatra

Manchester City's owner is accused of contravening Thai rules over purchases of state land while in office. Photograph: Jon Super/AP

Thaksin Shinawatra has indicated he will stay away from Manchester City's Uefa Cup qualifying tie against the Danish side FC Midtjylland tonight as he contemplates the first stages of a legal battle to avoid extradition back to Thailand.

Five days after jumping bail and fleeing to London rather than risk being sent to prison on corruption charges, Thaksin is aware his presence at the City of Manchester stadium could be unwelcome for Mark Hughes in what the manager, with a hefty amount of understatement, described yesterday as a "difficult week".

Hughes spoke of supporters being "upset and bewildered" because of the flood of negative publicity, although he reiterated that he would not resign despite his own problems adapting to the new regime. City, he insisted, were "going in the right direction" and, to back up his point, he revealed that Thaksin was still wealthy enough for transfer money to be available. "I've been reassured," he said. "People may have been concerned that I wouldn't have the funds to bring in players but that's not the case. We are actively pursuing players as we speak."

It is clear, however, that City are not in the financial position that Hughes assumed when he left Blackburn Rovers to take the job 10 weeks ago. Thaksin is unable to free the £800m worth of assets that are frozen in Thailand and Hughes had to intervene to prevent Vedran Corluka being sold to Tottenham Hotspur earlier this week, as well as having to investigate whether Stephen Ireland had also been put up for sale.

"It has been a difficult week in many respects but it has happened very early in my tenure and from this point onwards we can move on and work much better," said Hughes. "There have been misunderstandings but it's also true to say that in any organisation, if you make big changes, on occasions messages will be misinterpreted and mistakes will be made."

The former Wales manager, whose problems have been exacerbated by the news that Darius Vassell will miss 10 weeks with a knee injury, described himself as "stimulated" by the new challenges but there was also a telling admission that he was still waiting for his first face-to-face meeting with Thaksin. He did confirm, however, that he had been promised nobody would be sold against his wishes.

"I had a meeting with the players to make the group aware that I'm in charge and will make the decisions that affect the players," he added. "If players leave or if they go, that decision will be mine and mine solely. That's where we are and I think everybody understands now that that is the situation. I think we will be better for it and we can now move forward."

The truth, however, is that City will face an uncertain future for as long as Thaksin is living in exile, with Thailand already making preparations to try to extradite him. A team of government lawyers has been assembled to examine his case, according to the state prosecutor.

Meanwhile the Supreme Court in Thailand is expected to pass judgment on a land deal involving Thaksin on September 16. A conviction in his absence could affect his ownership of Manchester City under the FA's "fit and proper person" rule. However, he is accused of contravening Thai rules over purchases of state land while in office, an offence that does not exist under British law.

"We can't really go into the details of the owner's position because, if we are truthful, we don't know which way it is going to go," said Hughes. "But I was aware of this situation before I came here."

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/aug/14/uefa.manchestercity

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