A Thai official has warned that refugee footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi could remain in prison until August while the court decides on an extradition request from Bahrain.
Hakeem Al-Araibi is fighting the extradition request, saying he faces torture if returned.
The footballer fled criminal charges related to the 2011 Arab Spring protests against Bahrain's government. He denies the charges.
The Thai court hearing the case will need two to three months to give its ruling after the next hearing in late April, said a spokesman for the attorney general's office.
"So between now and then, Hakeem will have to be in custody for at least until August," Trumph Jalichandra said during press conference in Bangkok (6pm AEDT), according to a translation provided by Reuters.
Hakeem Al-Araibi in Thailand. Source: AAP
Earlier in the day, former Socceroos captain Craig Foster continued his advocacy for Mr Al-Araibi's release and visited the detained Melbourne-based footballer.
Foster said Mr Al-Araibi has been training in prison so he is "strong, ready to play" for his Melbourne-based football club Pascoe Vale.
He also told SBS News Thailand are obligated to let Mr Al-Araibi free.
"The issue is really a simple one. Under international laws and under their own obligations...Thailand simply need to let him go," he said.
"It was a very confusing statement they made today...we think it demonstrates the pressure the Thai government is under, that's important and that needs to continue."
Thai authorities blame Australia
Mr Al-Araibi was arrested at Bangkok's international airport in November when he flew from Australia to Thailand with his wife for a honeymoon.
The 25-year-old said he faces torture if returned to Bahrain. He said he only wants to return to Australia, where he has lived since 2014.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison called again on Tuesday for Mr Al-Araibi to be released and sent back to Australia, saying he was "disturbed" to see photos of him in shackles as he arrived for a court hearing earlier this week.
The Thai foreign ministry updated a statement on the case on Wednesday afternoon, which it described as "involving two countries competing for Mr Hakeem's custody".
It said Thailand only became involved "by chance" after a police bureau that handles Interpol matters in Australia notified Thai authorities that Al-Araibi had boarded a flight to Bangkok and was subject to a "red notice" initiated by Bahrain.
"It took several days after the arrival of Mr Hakeem before the Australian authorities informed us that the red notice had been cancelled," the statement said.
"By that time, legal proceedings in Thailand regarding Mr Hakeem had already started and could not be reversed," it said.
Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Marise Payne called on Thai authorities to use their discretion in Al-Araibi's case.
"Given ... that he is a permanent resident of our country, on the pathway to citizenship, we have encouraged the Bahraini government not to proceed with the extradition application, and we have encouraged the Thai government to exercise the discretion that they have available to them," she told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from Samoa.
Australia's Home Affairs office confirmed in December that federal police had advised Thai authorities a person with a red notice was on the way to Thailand, but did not say if the bureau was aware Al-Araibi had refugee status.
Footballers Chiellini, Drogba send support
The international support for the release of Al-Araibi has now caught the attention of high-profile players across the world.
Juventus and Italian captain Giorgio Chiellini and former Chelsea legend Didier Drogba have both offered their support to Al-Araibi.
During his visit with Al-Araibi, Foster told him of the players coming out in support of him. Foster said brought a smile like he had "never seen".
- with Reuters
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