Madam Pang has sparked intense debate in the Thai media.

Madam Pang aimed to explain clearly the cause of coach Masatada Ishii’s firing via a heartfelt letter, yet her manner of communication triggered a strong wave of disputes across Thailand.

The Thai media is abuzz following a lengthy post by Madam Pang, the President of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), concerning the dismissal of coach Masatada Ishii. After a day of silence amid a storm of criticism, the influential businesswoman penned an “open letter” to justify her decision, starting with a striking phrase: “I have the authority to decide.”

Madam Pang believes that, as the employer, she has the right to terminate the coach’s contract when she deems him unsuitable, provided all regulations are followed and full compensation is paid. “When I see that someone is no longer suitable, I have the right to make changes for the betterment of the team,” she emphasized.

However, experts and Thai fans do not fully agree with the president’s perspective. According to Thailand’s DailyNews, although dismissing coach Ishii is legally within the federation head’s rights, deciding the “head coach of the national team” cannot be based solely on personal will. The national team symbolizes the spirit of the entire country, so any decision about the head coach position must be carefully considered in terms of context, timing, and reasonableness.

Thai media also commented that Madam Pang’s open letter contained too many elaborate arguments and flowery language, which seemed to overshadow the main message. Instead of helping the public understand better, she further divided opinions and sparked numerous debates on social media regarding the validity of this decision.

According to sources from FAT, the technical department proposed replacing coach Ishii after the loss to Turkmenistan but had not found a suitable successor. Currently, Anthony Hudson has been appointed to lead the Thai national team in the new phase.

This “legal right” also recalls the time when Madam Pang decided to leave her position as chairman of Port FC to become the FAT president. At that time, many questioned: “Is this allowed?” Although she stepped down from the club, some still whispered: “The law doesn’t forbid it.”In fact, that decision raised doubts among many about its appropriateness and the ability to maintain balance among clubs. DailyNews emphasized that while no regulation prohibits it, beyond “rules,” there is also the matter of “suitability.”

Madam Pang’s lengthy post unintentionally sparked various interpretations; her attempt to defend the decision only intensified the debate. No one denies her dedication to Thai football, but is the “right to decide” enough to convince fans during this sensitive time?