King's Cup marred by on-field brawls

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King's Cup marred by on-field brawls

Thailand beat Lebanon in ill-tempered match

Published: 22/01/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Sports

PHUKET : Thailand beat Lebanon 2-1 in a hot-tempered match hit by mass brawls at the 39th King's Cup at Surakul stadium here last night.

Lebanon’s Zakaria Charara, No 9, and Thailand’s Suree Sukha, No 2, are at the centre of the trouble. PHOTOS BY PAWAT LAOPAISARNTAKSIN

In tomorrow's final, the Thais will meet Denmark who edged North Korea 1-0 in the four-team tournament earlier yesterday.

Goals from striker Teerasil Dangda after 12 minutes and midfielder Suchao Nutnum after 22 minutes secured the win for Thailand. Mahmoud El Ali scored for Lebanon in the 50th minute.

The ''friendly'' match was marred by harsh tackles and mass brawls as play was delayed twice in the final minutes.

As Lebanon were pushing for an equaliser with 10 minutes to go, their substitute Zakaria Charara and Thailand defender Suree Sukha had a heated argument as they both tried to grab the ball after a foul.

It led to ugly scenes involving players and officials from both sides. Charara slapped Surat Sukha during the melee and it is likely the Lebanese might have mistaken Surat for his twin Suree.

The game was stopped for nearly 10 minutes as Lebanon staged a walkout. Play resumed after Worawi Makudi, president of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), persuaded the visitors to return to the pitch and Charara only got a yellow card.

In injury time, another clash between Suree and Charara led to more chaos. The referee then decided to blow the final whistle with a few minutes left in stoppage time.

Thailand got off to a lively start in a one-sided first half. The home team took the lead in the 12th minute when Teerasil received a pass from captain Datsakorn Thonglao and tricked three Lebanon defenders to slot the ball home.

Datsakorn was again the provider when his header met Suchao who sent the ball past Lebanon goalkeeper Elias Freije in the 22nd minute.

It was a different story in the second half as the visitors cut the deficit five minutes after the interval with a well-taken volley by El Ali.

The visitors were the better side in the second half and had numerous scoring chances as the Thais looked out of sorts.

After Thailand conceded the goal, the match became ill-tempered. Thailand substitute goalkeeper Kittisak Rawangpa collided with a Lebanese player who needed lengthy treatment and had to be substituted.

Then a Lebanese player suffered a cut to his head after a challenge for the ball with a Thai player.

Striker Teerasil Dangda, right, is congratulated by team-mates after scoring Thailand’s opening goal. Suchao Nutnum, No 8, scored the second for the home team.

Thailand coach Peter Reid said the match was tough as Thailand played well in the first half but seemingly ran out of steam in the second half.

He said his players should not have got involved in the brawls and that he would talk to them about how to stay focused.

''We must not lose concentration in a game. I will talk to the players about this,'' said the English coach.

He gave credit to Lebanon who changed their tactics in the second half with two widemen who put pressure on the Thai defence throughout the second half.

Reid said it would be difficult for Thailand to beat Denmark in the final as the Danes are big and strong with good technique.

Lebanon refused to attend the post-match press conference.

In the first match of the tournament, Denmark defeated North Korea 1-0 with Soren Rieks hitting the winner after 21 minutes.

Tomorrow, Thailand meet Denmark in the final at 7pm and North Korea take on Lebanon in the third-place play-off at 4pm.

About the author

Writer: TOR CHITTINAND

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A Former Player

Discussion 6 : 23/01/2009 at 03:37 AM6
This is based on my own experience. I could never figure it out. In the mid 1970's, a Thai soccer team in Sacramento played against several Vietnamese teams and had no problems. Then the middle east team (s) came along to play against us. Once they started to lose, they wanted to change the rules and fight. Actually, one of the Thai players just about to hit one of them with a crow bar. At the same time, while attending Sacramento States, there were hardly middle east students attended. But once there were exams, they showed up and lined up in a single row and chatted in Arabic while taking the exams. After graduating and working as a professional engineer based on 40 hours per week for more than 28 years, I also notice majority of the middle east engineers hardly showed up 40 hours per week as required. What is up with that? I still cannot figure it out after all these years?
somsak

Discussion 5 : 22/01/2009 at 04:22 PM5
The lebanese number 9 deserves a red card, because he hit the head of a Thai player. If the judge does not issue a read card there is no right occasion for him to do so. But surprisingly after the Lebanon's threat to abandon the game and some arbitration efforts by the Association, the judge changed his decision to yeallow card,and let the number 9 continue to play! After that, the game naturally heated up, and this time, Thai player beat Lebanon player fisrt and the hassle started. Again the judge did not give a red card to anybody. It's understandable this is a freindship match sponsored by the king, so they did not want any troubles, but I think the improper meddling of the association in the game made the situation worse. I think that the Lebanse team should not have made a protest by withdrawing the players in the first place, but it's also true that Thai side handled the situation very poorly.
defender of common sense

Discussion 4 : 22/01/2009 at 02:04 PM4
the thai team has no sportsmanship and probably bribed the referee too
Chiangmaijoe

Discussion 3 : 22/01/2009 at 11:36 AM3
Is Charara a girl? He certainly slaps like one.
ongisnade

Discussion 2 : 22/01/2009 at 10:50 AM2
Peace be with us,I'm not Thais and I'm a fanatic with football...in every match event I would like to saw,..and I always support Thai National team,but after I saw the match Thai and Libanon...why Thais player did like unprofesional player...and this event is King's Cup...This is not tournament like AFF Cup or AFC Cup...maybe Thai National Team must be a "Winner" in this event because failed bringing back AFF Cup home.Sorry
Garitzd

Discussion 1 : 22/01/2009 at 10:35 AM1
I'm Thai soccer team avid fan, But, last night i saw that they are un-sportmanship game, there are so many bad calls from referee, it should be red carded for some Thai players... Viva Lebanon...

A Former Player

Discussion 6 : 23/01/2009 at 03:37 AM6

This is based on my own experience. I could never figure it out. In the mid 1970's, a Thai soccer team in Sacramento played against several Vietnamese teams and had no problems. Then the middle east team (s) came along to play against us. Once they started to lose, they wanted to change the rules and fight. Actually, one of the Thai players just about to hit one of them with a crow bar. At the same time, while attending Sacramento States, there were hardly middle east students attended. But once there were exams, they showed up and lined up in a single row and chatted in Arabic while taking the exams. After graduating and working as a professional engineer based on 40 hours per week for more than 28 years, I also notice majority of the middle east engineers hardly showed up 40 hours per week as required. What is up with that? I still cannot figure it out after all these years?

somsak

Discussion 5 : 22/01/2009 at 04:22 PM5

The lebanese number 9 deserves a red card, because he hit the head of a Thai player. If the judge does not issue a read card there is no right occasion for him to do so. But surprisingly after the Lebanon's threat to abandon the game and some arbitration efforts by the Association, the judge changed his decision to yeallow card,and let the number 9 continue to play! After that, the game naturally heated up, and this time, Thai player beat Lebanon player fisrt and the hassle started. Again the judge did not give a red card to anybody. It's understandable this is a freindship match sponsored by the king, so they did not want any troubles, but I think the improper meddling of the association in the game made the situation worse. I think that the Lebanse team should not have made a protest by withdrawing the players in the first place, but it's also true that Thai side handled the situation very poorly.

defender of common sense

Discussion 4 : 22/01/2009 at 02:04 PM4

the thai team has no sportsmanship and probably bribed the referee too

Chiangmaijoe

Discussion 3 : 22/01/2009 at 11:36 AM3

Is Charara a girl? He certainly slaps like one.

ongisnade

Discussion 2 : 22/01/2009 at 10:50 AM2

Peace be with us,I'm not Thais and I'm a fanatic with football...in every match event I would like to saw,..and I always support Thai National team,but after I saw the match Thai and Libanon...why Thais player did like unprofesional player...and this event is King's Cup...This is not tournament like AFF Cup or AFC Cup...maybe Thai National Team must be a "Winner" in this event because failed bringing back AFF Cup home.Sorry

Garitzd

Discussion 1 : 22/01/2009 at 10:35 AM1

I'm Thai soccer team avid fan, But, last night i saw that they are un-sportmanship game, there are so many bad calls from referee, it should be red carded for some Thai players... Viva Lebanon...

King's Cup marred by on-field brawls