Exclusive: Thailand turned to football chief’s family for trophy

A FAMILY company of English football chief Sir Dave Richards was asked to create a new trophy for the national league of Thailand – a country which Sir Dave had high-level connections with through his roles on football’s governing bodies.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Apr 2011, 10:10 BST

Glue Creative Production Solutions, owned by Sir Dave’s son, David, said it was “a little gobsmacked” to receive the request to design and produce a new Thai Premier League trophy in early 2010 – a time when Sir Dave was a director of Glue himself. He resigned his directorship on December 31 last year.

The Yorkshire Post yesterday revealed that Glue had been awarded business from a series of football organisations on which Sir Dave has played a leading role, including the Premier League and the FA-backed 2018 World Cup bid.

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The revelations prompted concern from MPs on the Commons’ culture, media and sport committee, which is currently running an inquiry into football governance, over a potential conflict of interest.

Sir Dave is a vice chairman of the FA and chairman of the FA’s International Committee which has led to contacts with counterparts in Thailand. These included an approach from Thailand, a potential ally for England’s World Cup bid, to arrange a friendly international.

The head of the Thai FA, Worawi Makudi also sought Sir Dave’s advice when Thailand appointed former Sunderland manager Peter Reid as national team coach in 2008.

The Premier League, which Sir Dave chairs, has strongly promoted its product in Thailand including hosting a pre-season tournament in Bangkok.

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The league has a more unhappy connection with Thailand following its ratification of the takeover of Manchester City by former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2007 despite concerns over his human rights record and allegations of corruption.

The FA, the Premier League and Sir Dave declined to comment.

Glue owner David Richards declined to detail how the company had acquired the Thai business and said he had nothing to add to the blurb on Glue’s website.

It reads: “We are well-known for supplying products and services in to the national and international sports arena, but even we were left a little gobsmacked when in early 2010 we were contacted by the Thai Premier League who asked us if we’d be interested in designing and producing their Premier League trophy.

“After due consideration and internal debate, lasting at least 30 seconds, we obviously jumped at the opportunity!”

Related topics:ThailandDavid RichardsExclusive