Alaraibi was arrested on November 28 after arriving in Bangkok en route to his honeymoon with his wife.

The 25 year old midfielder with Pascoe Vale FC in Melbourne fled his Bahrain homeland in 2014 after he was jailed and tortured for protesting against the government in 2012.

He was given refugee status in Australia and granted permanent residency ahead of citizenship being approved.

Before setting off on holiday, he checked with Australian authorities if it was safe for him to go overseas and was told he was fine.

But today the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed they were tipped off that Alaraibi was on his way to Bangkok and should be arrested through an Interpol Red Notice alert from Australian Federal Police.

The Thais say they had no idea who Alaraibi was until his travel plans were flagged by Australia, and it was only then that Bahrain stepped in and demanded his extradition.

It still took the AFP several days to admit their mistake, and by the time they tried to reverse the red alert, it was already too late, say the Thais.

A government statement today insisted: "Thailand had previously not been aware of Mr Hakeem’s case and does not have any prejudice against him.

"Indeed, we would not have become involved in the issue had we not received the red notice alert from the Australian Interpol and the subsequent formal request by Bahrain for his arrest and extradition.

"It took several days after the arrival of Mr Hakeem, before the Australian authorities informed us that the red notice had been cancelled.

"By that time, legal proceedings in Thailand regarding Mr. Hakeem had already started and could not be reversed."

The Thais insist their politicians cannot step in to overrule the courts under their constitution and separation of powers, and have called on Bahrain and Australia to come to an agreement that the Thai government offers to stand by.

The statement added: "We believe we have a legitimate right to urge Australia and Bahrain to talk to each other and find a mutually agreeable solution.

"No matter what that solution may be, Thailand stands ready to support it in order to achieve a result that is mutually satisfactory for all."

It added: "Thailand hopes that Australia and Bahrain will have the goodwill to earnestly work together towards finding a win-win solution to this issue.

"In that way, we believe that those following this case in Thailand and around the world will praise both Australia and Bahrain for their efforts."

Last night PM Scott Morrison said he had written to his Thai counterpart Prayuth Chan-ocha for a second time after seeing Alaraibi in shackles as he appeared in court earlier this week.

“I’ve written to him again, because I was very disturbed at the appearance of Hakeem at the hearing the other day,” Morrison told Sky News.

“He was shackled and I thought that was very upsetting and I know it would have upset many Australians.

“I’m respectfully reminding the Thai prime minister that Australians feel very strongly about this, very very strongly.”

Foreign minister Marise Payne added: “The Australian government reiterates its calls for the Thai government to release Hakeem Alaraibi home to Australia to be with his friends and family following his extradition hearing.

“Both governments are aware of the importance of this matter to the Australian government and Australian people.”