In a remarkable turn of events, the President of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), Madam Pang, has secured a landmark broadcast deal. This agreement is worth six times the US$10.4 million debt that FAT was recently ordered to pay by Thailand’s Supreme Court.
The deal was signed with three major corporations: Gulf Energy, AIS, and JAS. The contract spans four years starting from the 2025–2026 season and is valued at 2 billion baht ($61.22 million).
The agreement includes exclusive domestic broadcast rights for Thai League 1, 2, and 3 as well as other competitions such as - Thai FA Cup, League Cup, U21 competitions, and Women’s leagues. Furthermore, there is an option to extend this contract for an additional two years if performance benchmarks are met according to reports from Thai newspaper The Standard.
Overcoming legal setbacks
This groundbreaking deal comes after a significant legal setback for FAT earlier this year when they were ordered by Thailand’s Supreme Court to pay compensation worth 360 million baht to Siam Sport - their former media partner.
The dispute originated from a contract in 2011 that was unilaterally terminated in 2016 under then-president Somyot Poompanmoung. This led to nearly a decade-long legal battle which ended in favor of Siam Sport in 2024 according to reports from the Thai News Agency.
Following the court's ruling, Madam Pang acknowledged FAT’s responsibility and moved swiftly towards resolving this financial crisis. Her leadership has been widely praised with local media attributing her efforts towards turning what could have been a financial disaster into an opportunity for revival for Thai football.
Bright financial future for Thai Football
The new deal not only eliminates FAT’s debt burden but also signals a strong financial future for Thai football. The $10.4 million debt, if left unresolved, would have generated significant interest over time.
Despite this major deal, FAT still holds additional unexploited value in the television rights of various Thailand national teams. This suggests a huge potential for more financial benefits in the future for Thai football, indicating that this is just the beginning of an exciting and prosperous era.
