The Thai FA has sent referees to swear an oath to the Emerald Buddha in a bid to cut corruption and bribery

Football chiefs in Thailand have come up with a novel way of trying to eradicate the country’s match-fixing problem – by getting referees to swear an oath in one of the country’s most famous religious temples.

The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) took more than 100 referees to swear before the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok that they would officiate matches honestly after widespread rumours of corruption in the domestic league. The FAT has implemented several measures to stop this and improve the officiating, including using lie-detectors, but match-fixing allegations persist.

“We have performed … and will perform our duty with honesty,” the match officials said in their oaths according to the Bangkok Post. It is a Thai tradition for people to make vows in front of the Emerald Buddha, which according to legend was created in India in 43BC.

Thanom Borikut, a referee who has been suspended following several controversial decisions, said this gesture showed referees were honest, “but we only have two eyes so it is not likely that everybody will make a correct decision.” Thanom has been told he can return to match duties after swearing the oath.

Dusit Chalermsan, the coach of the Thai Premier League side Singhtarua, hopes refereeing will improve as a result. “I hope Thai football will become better after they took oath before the Emerald Buddha.”