In the pursuit of sporting achievements, things can easily get heated between opponents.
During the football SEA Games finals on Tuesday (16 May), a brawl broke out between players and staff from the Indonesia and Thailand teams.
Thankfully, security officers promptly stepped in to break up the fight.
According to Channel NewsAsia (CNA), the first fight — the more minor of the two — after Thailand’s second goal in the 90th minute, which equalised the scoreline.
After the extra-time goal, Thai players and staff ran over to their opponent’s bench, seemingly to gloat.
This sparked a heated response from the Indonesian coaching team, which moments before, mistakenly thought the whistle calling for the free kick signalled the end of the match.
In their excitement, they ran onto the pitch to celebrate their victory. The referee eventually clarified the misunderstanding and ordered them to return to their benches.
Source: SportsCast India on YouTube
As the match went into extra time, the scene took an uglier turn.
In the 91st minute, Indonesia reclaimed their lead after Irfan Jauhari dispossessed Thai defender Songchai and chipped the ball past the goalkeeper.
Source: Entertainment – Mediacorp on YouTube
Unfortunately, the Indonesian celebrations quickly escalated into conflict.
Caught up in their emotions, Thai players and officials reportedly attacked the Indonesian team, which in turn retaliated.
Staff and players from both teams threw fists and kicks at each other. Before long, the match dissolved into a flurry of disorder.
Source: Entertainment – Mediacorp via kawe on YouTube
A staff member from the Indonesian team even got thrown to the ground.
Thankfully, the havoc was short-lived, as a team of security officials quickly stepped in to de-escalate the conflict.
Source: Entertainment – Mediacorp on YouTube
Thai goalkeeper Soponwit Rakyart was subsequently red-carded for running halfway across the field to punch an opponent.
The referee also sent off Indonesian player Komang Teguh Trisnanda and a member of the Thai coaching staff.
In hopes of resolving any remaining unhappiness, the referee held a “sideline peace summit” between both coaches before resuming the match.
Source: SportsCast India on YouTube
However, two more Thai players received their second yellow cards, leaving Thailand with just eight players.
Indonesia eventually won the game 5-2, clinching gold — the first time Indonesia won SEA Games gold for football since 1991.
While their performance on the pitch might have landed them their medals, such disputes always leave a bad taste in the mouth.
We hope the football teams from both countries will learn to control their emotions better so similar matchups will be devoid of such conflicts.
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Featured image adapted from Entertainment – Mediacorp on YouTube.
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