PHUKET: A well-known Phuket mayor has been warned that he could face arrest if a suspect in an attack on police officers at a Phuket football match is not delivered to police.

Officers have arrested Tepnarin Manabud, 28, and Suchart Wantong, 39, over the gang attack on policemen at a Phuket football match this week that put one officer in hospital. Four other men are wanted.

Police aimed to arrest one of the players in the Bang Tao Cup at a local school, Wirat Prabpet, 36, who was wanted for an alleged bag-snatch at knifepoint in Patong.

However, as officers closed on Khun Wirat, the leading policeman, Lieutenant Colonel Sommai Ornkam, was jumped by a gang.

The Cherng Talay mayor was among the spectators watching Tuesday's game who chose not to intervene.

He later told police that he would accompany Khun Wirat to surrender to police before a week had passed.

The mayor's self-imposed deadline expires this Tuesday. He spoke to Phuketwan briefly yesterday to say he was in Bangkok to receive a local government leadership award.

The lieutenant colonel required hospital treatment for extensive facial wound and broken teeth.

Facebook commenters on a local Internet site condemned the police for trying to make an arrest during Tuesday's football match.