Thailand apologises to Laos over football final drama
KITINAN SANGUANSAK
THE SUNDAY NATION September 6, 2015 1:00 am
A GROUP of Thai supporters arrested in Laos for causing disturbance during Thailand's football match against Vietnam on Friday night were released yesterday after spending a night in detention.
Twenty-five Thai fans were detained overnight in Laos following a crowd disturbance on terraces at the National Sports Complex stadium in Vientiane.
The incident marred the Thai side's 6-0 win over Vietnam in the final of the Asean Football Federation's U-19 Championship, taking the shine off the Thai team's imperious display against the Vietnamese, that capped a perfect run en route to the title.
The chaos occurred when the group of Thai supporters let off flares inside the venue when they celebrated the team's second goal before the hour mark.
Laotian police then stepped in to stop them but it led to a clash on the stands, prompting the officials to fire shots in the air in an attempt to bring the situation under control.
The Laotian authorities took those involved in the incident away from the stadium and kept them in detention. The Thai team manager, Nataphol Teepsuwan, initially tried to negotiate with the officials to help the trouble-making group but it came to no avail.
Apology from Thai embassy
The Thai fans from the group called "Ultras Thailand", though, were released yesterday before the Thai Embassy in the Lao capital issued an official statement to apologise for their act, which threatened to affect the two countries' relationship.
"We learnt of the incident that happened in the Asean Football Federation U-19 Championship match between Thailand and Vietnam. We were informed that a certain group of Thai fans behaved improperly towards the authorities. We would like to express our regret and apologise to Laotian people and authorities for the incident," the statement said.
The Thai Embassy in Vientiane, on behalf of the prime minister and foreign minister, yesterday also thanked the Lao government for its "special goodwill that has always been extended to Thailand and the Thai people", according to the embassy's second statement on the issue.
The Football Association of Thailand is set to launch an investigation into the incident, which they said caused "damage" to the image of the country.
"The association is set to set up a panel to investigate what happened. We admit that it damaged our country's image due to the action of a certain group of fans who defied Fifa's and AFC's regulations [regarding a ban on flares at the venue].
"From our initial information, this group of fans is the same one that caused trouble in the country before. They're a 'hardcore' group that has a penchant for causing trouble," said Police Lt-Colonel Chaisab Tharatrittem, the FAT board member overseeing the security matter.
'Lifetime bans possible'
According to Chaisab, those found guilty of being involved could face potential punishment as severe as a lifetime ban from watching the game.
"I already watched the video clip of the incident. They should not have done that. The association will probe what occurred. Should we find that this group of fans is the same one that caused trouble before, we could ban them from entering stadiums for life."
FAT's secretary-general Worawut Thongsringame said yesterday that the association was almost certain to receive a fine as a punishment for the incident.
"The FAT is likely to receive a fine certainly because it was clear that our fans were wrong. I'm sorry for the incident. I would like to beg our fans to support the team properly either in or outside the country," he said.
The drama has mean tightened security measures for Thailand's World Cup qualifier at home to Iraq on Tuesday at Rajamangala National Stadium. Anyone igniting flares or firecrackers at the venue will face legal action.
"The Thai FA would like to ask for cooperation from fans - to not take flares or firecrackers into the stadium. We'll deploy a great number of security officials as well as a bomb detector to conduct a thorough check.
"Anyone found to possess flares or firecrackers will not be allowed to enter the stadium. Should they manage to slip through and let off the flares they will face legal proceedings, which could culminate in either a fine or a prison sentence," FAT's lawyer Narinpong Chinapak said.
