Nualphan “Madam Pang” Lamsam broke news on the financial crisis at a press conference on March 11, marking one year in office. During the event, she broke down in tears, expressing her disappointment over the financial wounds left by former FAT president Somyot Poompanmoung.

Under Poompanmoung’s leadership, FAT accumulated significant debt, forcing Madam Pang and her team to deal with the aftermath. The biggest issue was FAT’s legal defeat to media company Siam Sport after an improper termination of a contract, which resulted in a court order to pay over $10 million in compensation, Nation Thailand reported.

Following the press conference, Madam Pang took to social media, posting multiple updates to explain the situation.

However, what caught the most attention was romantic photos of her and her husband, Police Colonel Narat Sawettanan, captioned “My love”.

Many followers interpreted this as a personal moment of comfort for Madam Pang amid the immense pressure of leading Thai football through a crisis.

Under Madam Pang’s post, many people expressed admiration for her marriage, with comments saying that her husband’s support, understanding and companionship help her remain resilient and regain her strength.

However, few are aware of the difficult journey she and Colonel Sawettanan have gone through, including his life-threatening medical condition.

In an interview with Praevthe couple revealed that they planned to get married in March 2014. However, at the end of 2013, Sawettanan began experiencing blurred vision and occasional loss of sight, prompting him to undergo an MRI scan which revealed a brain cyst the size of a small lemon, shocking both of them.

They immediately returned from Singapore to Thailand for further medical consultation. Doctors presented them with three treatment options, and the couple chose medication as the first course of action to slow the cyst’s growth.

Madam Pang’s family was concerned about the potential complications and urged her to reconsider their wedding plans. However, and the couple decided to move forward with their marriage. They brought the wedding forward to January 2014 to ensure Madam Pang could be by Sawettanan’s side during his treatment.

Rather than hosting a grand wedding with over 1,000 guests, the couple opted for a simple, intimate ceremony with close family and relatives.

Madam Pang, 57, is a businesswoman, politician and scion of one of Thailand’s wealthiest families. She is a prominent figure in Thai football, having played pivotal roles in both men’s and women’s teams over the past decade.

In February 2024, she made history to become the first woman elected as the 18th president of FAT, winning the majority of votes.