BANGKOK, April 29 (Xinhua) -- A published picture showing a Thai national flag bearing the name "Thaksin" at a Manchester City Football Club match has sparked controversy in Thailand, while the Thai government said it would inquire the football club, owned by Thailand's former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

    Thailand's Matichon newspaper on Tuesday published a picture of a Thai flag with the name "Thaksin" on it, which was taken at the Man City club's stadium last Saturday in a match.

    Responding to the incident, Thailand's Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama was quoted by news network The Nation as saying on Tuesday that he would contact Man. City club to make an inquiry over the flag.

    Noppadon said it was a sensitive issue for Thai people. He believed the club would cooperate with the ministry to ban the improper act.

    He said former prime minister Thaksin was "unlikely" to be involved in the "improper act", and it could have been done by Man. City supporters who had no idea about its sensitiveness.

    Thaksin, Thailand's former prime minister ousted in a military coup on Sept. 19, 2006, became the new chairman of the English Premier League football club in an acquisition deal in 2007 during his self-exile in London. Thaksin returned to Thailand late February to stand on trial against corruption charges, after the pro-Thaksin People's Power Party (PPP) won the post-coup general election on Dec. 23 and formed a coalition government with other five parties.

    On Tuesday, Thai Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who led the PPP, said printing the name of "Thaksin" on the national flag was inappropriate. He has asked his aides to look into the matter, but he believed local supporters were responsible.

    Samak said he believed Thaksin would have ordered club officials to take it down if he had seen it because it would ruin his image. Samak urged Thaksin to clarify the incident when he returns to Thailand.

    Thaksin's spokeswoman Sansanee Narkphong said the flag could have been placed on the terrace by local supporters. She appealed to Thais to calm down until the truth was revealed, so that their sentiment would not be used as a tool of anti-Thaksin groups.