Thai footballer sent off for pinching Malaysian player’s genitals during match
A red card was handed to a Thai footballer when he unexpectedly pinched a rival player’s genitals during a match.
The incident occurred on Tuesday (3 Dec) night during the AFC Champions League Elite clash between the two Southeast Asian teams.
Southeast Asian rivals clash on 3 Dec
According to ESPN, the two teams faced off with hopes of securing their spot in the Round of 16.
Although the match ended in a scoreless draw, the result didn’t reflect the drama that unfolded during the game.
About 13 minutes into the game, Murilo — one of the players from Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim — was handed a red card for a last-man foul.
Thai Club Buriram United, with the numbers advantage, seemingly had the momentum in their favour.
But in a surprising twist, an unconventional act by one of the Thai players evened the playing field.
Referee sends off Thai player after reviewing VAR footage
In the final minute of the first half, Theerathon Bunmathan of Buriram United fell to the ground after Johor Darul Ta’zim’s Arif Aiman fouled him on the wing.
Source: The AFC Hub on YouTube
While initially expressing exasperation at the call, Aiman soon offered Bunmathan a hand.
Seemingly accepting his gesture, the Thai footballer slowly gets up. However, he suddenly pinched the Malaysian footballer in the crotch with his right hand.
Source: The AFC Hub on YouTube
Immediately, Mr Aiman fell to the ground in apparent agony. He rolled multiple times on the grass while holding his crotch.
Although the referee did not see it happening in real-time, he was soon called to the touchline.
With help from the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the referee was shown a replay of Bunmathan reaching for Aiman’s groin.
The Thai footballer was unsurprisingly shown a red card after the VAR review.
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Featured image adapted from The AFC Hub on YouTube.
