LIVERPOOL BID 'TO FIGHT DRUG USE'

BANGKOK - The Thai bid for a stake in Liverpool is not just about
football, but also a way to inspire its youth and help keep them off
drugs.

In a new twist, Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra has linked his
4 billion baht (S$170 million) bid for a 30 per cent stake in
Liverpool with Thailand's war against drug abuse among teenagers.

'Before my government came in, you could buy drugs like chewing gum.
It was that easy. It was rampant, everywhere,' he told a group of
visiting editors.

Millions of youths suffered from addiction to drugs, he noted, and was
part of a wider problem of disengaged youth that societies everywhere
are facing.

In Bangkok's urban areas, some youths took to motorcycle racing,
without a care for their safety. Others became part of radical activities.

Such waywardness reflected a failure of societies to channel the
energies of these youths into constructive activities, he said.

'So, we would like to use sports as an incentive for them to engage in
constructive activities,' he said.

There was no sport more popular in Thailand than soccer, he noted. But
the Thai soccer team was not strong enough to inspire its youths.

'So I want to leapfrog my football team,' he said.

The Liverpool bid, he said, would help promote the game by encouraging
youths to 'come and play', to exercise, take part in tournaments or go
professional.

Beyond this, he noted that English Premier League clubs were
well-known and watched all over the world throughout the year.

There were business opportunities for sports-related merchandising in
Asia, which had not been tapped fully, he said.

'The club has not been harvestting its popularity in Asia enough yet.
So, we look at football beyond football.'

The Premier did not disclose any new details of the outcome of the
bid, which had been stalled over questions such as how many seats Thai
officials should have on the club's board.

The Thais want two seats while the club is offering only one, Thai
newspapers reported. The deal is not expected to be wrapped up until
next week at the earliest.

But Mr Thaksin did reveal that he used to be an avid soccer
player.

'In school, I played football, basketball. Now, I play golf. Handicap
about 18 to 20. It is for fun.

'And to make a little money,' he said with a laugh.