BANGKOK (AFP) - A colourful ex-police chief backed by Leicester City's billionaire owners was elected on Thursday as president of the embattled Football Association of Thailand, in a vote prompted by the suspension of the scandal-mired former boss.

Somyot Poompanmoung scooped up 62 of the available 72 votes from football clubs and officials, according to an AFP reporter.

The 61-year-old was supported by a number of big Thai football clubs as well as his friend Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, the billionaire owner of table-topping English Premier League outfit Leicester.

He will succeed Worawi Makudi, who for years fended off endless scandals with lawsuits and bravado. Worawi, a Fifa executive committee member for 18 years until last May, could not run in Thursday's election after being suspended by the game's governing body over an alleged breach of its ethical code.