Photo: After unexpectedly claiming the title, winner Thailand left the trophy on the bench at the stadium as a protest against organizers
Thailand Friday defeated the Vietnamese team to win the Under-19 The Thao (Sports Vietnam) Newspaper Cup but drew criticism for unsportsmanlike behavior during the closing stages of the football final in Hanoi.
Despite winning the friendly four-country competition, the Thai team refused to accept the cup and the US$3,000 in prize money.
The Thai team walked off the field at Hanoi’s Hang Day Stadium after referee Phung Dinh Dung awarded a penalty shot to the Vietnamese team with just three minutes left on the clock.
The penalty gave Vietnam a chance to win the final, which was drawn at 2-all.
One of the Thai players even took off his shirt as if the match had ended.
Members of the organizing board begged Thai team officials to send their team back onto the field – to no avail.
Finally, Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Vice President Vu Quang Vinh and Secretary General Tran Quoc Tuan spent 10 minutes persuading the Thai team to resume the game.
Although the Thai team returned to the field to play out the remaining minutes, the unsporting antics continued.
The Thai goal-keeper stood to the left of the goal, leaving it wide open.
His plan didn’t work, though, because Vietnamese striker Duc Tai sent the ball wide.
It’s not clear whether Tai decided to miss himself or whether he was instructed to by team officials.
Tai’s wide shot – which received rapturous applause from spectators, his teammates and even players from Malaysia and Laos – may have taken the Thai team by surprise.
They responded by refusing to accept the trophy.
Thai team leader Wisit Konworrakul and an assistant, rather than the 18 Thai players and coach Kawin Kachendecha, went up to the podium to collect the prize.
The Thai team coach told VFF Secretary General Tran Quoc Tuan: “There are no champions today. The Thai team were not the champs. The title should go to … the spectators.”
After the match, the Thai team leader Wisit Konworrakul complained the host country had unfairly arranged a Vietnamese referee overseeing the final.
The situation, however, degenerated even further into farce after the presentation ceremony, with the Thai coach insisting on returning the cup to VFF Secretary General Tuan.
After a lengthy discussion, mediated by a representative of the Malaysian team, the cup was neither returned to VFF nor the event organizers but left on the Thai team’s bench.
When the Thai group left the stadium for their hotel, a representative of the organizers carried the winner’s cup to their bus.
It was supposed to be a friendly competition but the excessive tension gave a very bad impression of the game and the reputation of the two teams.
Friday’s incident followed accusations a Vietnamese referee was not fair on the Laotian team, allowing the Vietnamese team to crush their Laotian rivals 4-1.
It’s a terrible shame for underdeveloped football in the Southeast Asian region.
It’s also a great shame that team officials spoil young footballers rather than teaching them to behave like true sportsmen.
I hate organized competition for this reason alone.
Try googling for ASEAN olympic hosted in Phillipine and in Thailand. There were scandals there as well. The country that host the event will always wanted their country to win and do anything to give them the advantage. When sport become political then it is not sport anymore. It is merely propaganda.
