Somyot says FAT will investigate post-game fracas
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The Football Association of Thailand president, Somyot Poompanmuang, insisted the body will immediately investigate the post-game crowd violence that marred Muangthong United’s home tie against Port FC in the second leg of the League Cup semifinals.
On Wednesday evening, aside from occasional goading between rival fans during the game, there were no signs of trouble as three-time Thai League champions Muangthong claimed a 1-1 draw, thanks to Cleition Silva’s second-half penalty to clinch a 3-2 aggregate win over the second-tier opponents.
The Twin Kirin will meet Thai League rivals Buriram United, who swept aside Songkhla United 3-1 on aggregate after a goalless draw in the second leg, in the final of the competition next month at Supachalasai Stadium, a neutral venue.
However, trouble broke out shortly after the final whistle at Muangthong’s SCG Stadium as rival fans engaged in fighting outside the venue before the violence spread to adjacent Impact Arena, with occasional loud noise of large firecrackers during the melee.
That prompted the police to step in to try to bring order to the situation. Using a highpressure water cannon to disperse fans, the authorities were soon able to restore order and those injured were taken to nearby hospitals.
Muangthong and national midfielder Chanatip Songkrasin took to the social media to condemn the latest crowd violence that marred the meeting between the two clubs.
“Fighting does not make sense. Does football make you guys happy? It’s such a pity,” the 22yearold wrote on his Facebook page.
Nuanphan Lamsam, the Port FC president, yesterday paid a visit to the club’s injured fans at the hospital, one of them reportedly severely wounded and needed to undergo operation after taking a serious blow to the head. She told reporters that she would pay for the treatment.
The animosity between the two clubs’ fans has been festering for years since the mass brawl erupted on the terrace when the two sides competed in the King’s Trophy match, the traditional curtainraiser prior to the start of domestic season, in 2010, which caused the game to be abandoned.
They came to blows again at the end of Muangthong’s home league fixture two years ago when Port played in the country’s topflight division. The two clubs were deducted nine points and fined Bt300,000 each, while their fans were banned from attending the last three games of the season.
With Muangthong threatening to dissolve the club should they receive “too harsh” a punishment from the association, Somyot yesterday pleaded for calm and not speculate on potential sanctions.
“We are not talking about point deduction. It’s too soon to say the sort of punishment we would impose on them. We cannot say anything at the moment because we haven’t started the investigation. So, let’s wait and see until we complete the investigation.
“I told those responsible to conduct the investigation carefully and try to make sure both clubs are treated equally,” Somyot said.
