Thaksin Shinawatra greets a well-wisher at Suvarnabhumi Airport on his return from England yesterday evening.

Thaksin returns with apology from Man City fan for disrespecting flag

Former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra yesterday blamed cultural ignorance for an unnamed Manchester City fan displaying a Thai flag with Thaksin's name on it during a recent football match in the English Premier League.

Thaksin said the fan had expressed his regret for his action.

"The fan said he did that out of his love and good intention for Thailand and the club. He told me to relay his apology. It's a matter of culture. They don't see anything wrong with it there," said Thaksin.

He was speaking to the Thai media for the first time about the controversy.

The flag in question was hung inside a stadium during a recent Manchester City match.

Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said earlier that it was improper to have Thaksin's name on the Thai national flag, and added that he would seek an explanation from the former prime minister.

Thaksin said he would explain the matter to the premier.

Thaksin arrived at Suvarnabhumi Airport late yesterday evening. He was greeted in the VIP arrival room by his children, his sister Yingluck Shinawatra, politicians and some Cabinet members. His wife, Khunying Pojaman, was not present.

Unlike in his previous homecoming, only a few of Thaksin's supporters showed up to welcome him at the airport. He chatted with them briefly and gave them his autograph.

Thaksin also met a large group of reporters and photographers at the airport and answered questions that focused mainly on the flag controversy.

Security was tight with more than 100 police officers dispatched to the airport at the time of Thaksin's arrival. His motorcade later left the airport under the protection of the Special Branch police.