The Football Association reveals a plan to settle a 360 million baht debt owed to Siam Sport, reaching a tripartite agreement.
On 22 June 2026, Madame Pang Nuannaphan Lamsam, president of the Football Association of Thailand under royal patronage, held a press conference following the board meeting on 21 June 2026. She announced that the association has reached an agreement on settling its debt to Siam Sport Syndicate Public Company Limited and Cineplex Company Limited (True Group).
Recently, after the association paid Siam Sport 120 million baht, it requested to take over the remaining 240 million baht debt (originally owed by Siam Sport to True Group) under the terms agreed upon by all involved parties.
The association expressed gratitude to the management of Cineplex (a True Group company), led by Mr. Supachai Chearavanont, and Siam Sport Syndicate Public Company Limited, led by Mr. Rawit Lohthong, for prioritizing the interests of Thai football.
This debt issue dates back to 2016 under the previous association leadership, which revoked Siam Sport's rights to manage sponsorship and broadcasts. This led to lawsuits and legal battles spanning three courts over ten years, culminating in the Supreme Court ruling against the association, requiring repayment of 360 million baht plus interest to Siam Sport.
After Madame Pang Nuannaphan Lamsam and the current board took office in 2024, they have actively negotiated and gradually repaid the debt.
Previously, the association fully settled the 120 million baht difference with Siam Sport on 30 March 2026, leaving the remaining 240 million baht debt owed by Siam Sport Syndicate Public Company Limited to Cineplex Company Limited, which also affects the association.
Under the three-party agreement, the association will pay the entire 240 million baht debt (on behalf of Siam Sport) to Cineplex. The repayment plan is divided into two parts: cash payments according to agreed installments,
and granting exclusive broadcasting rights related to Thai national football team matches, including live broadcasts and reruns via OTT, IPTV, and Pay TV across all platforms operated by True Group or its affiliates. Marketing rights related to these broadcasts for a four-year period from 2026 to 2029 will be granted to Cineplex, partly substituting the outstanding debt, with the remainder paid monthly in cash.
Madame Nuannaphan Lamsam, president of the Football Association of Thailand, believes this agreement will strengthen the association's financial stability by eliminating the risk of asset seizure from creditors, which could impact operations. The association can now fully focus on developing and achieving success for the Thai national football team at all levels, the ultimate goal shared by Thai football fans.
Although facing severe financial liquidity challenges since taking office, Madame Nuannaphan Lamsam has continued to drive the association forward under various constraints, especially resolving off-field issues.
For example, the association successfully sold Thai League broadcast rights to AIS-GULF-JAS for 2 billion baht over a 4-year contract (2025/26–2028/29), with annual payments of 500 million baht and options to extend for two more seasons. Support payments to clubs across all three leagues increased: Thai League 1 from 10 million to 15 million baht, Thai League 2 from 3 million to 4 million baht, and Thai League 3 from 1 million to 1.25 million baht, paid in four timely installments.
For the first time in history, professional men’s and women’s football leagues at all levels have been broadcast live. Sponsors have been secured across all three professional leagues (Thai League 1-3), and exclusive national team broadcast rights have been sold to Thairath TV for all platforms including TV, online, and social media, and to Cineplex exclusively for OTT, IPTV, and Pay TV platforms operated by True Group or affiliates.
