4 sent off, 2 all-in brawls as Indonesia v Thailand football final boils over at Southeast Asian Games
- Thai FA apologises, saying team staff should ‘maintain calm emotions’ and vowing ‘there will be punishment, there will be no protection to those involved’
- Punching and kicking between coaches and players forces stadium security to step in during the final in Cambodia, won by Indonesia
Thai football chiefs apologised on Wednesday and promised “severe punishments” for wrongdoers after brawls marred the Southeast Asian Games football final against Indonesia in Cambodia.
Indonesia won the under-23 match 5-2 on Tuesday after extra time, by which time Thailand had been reduced to eight players and the Indonesians to 10 in the wake of four red cards and two all-in brawls.
The Thailand Football Association said the incidents at Phnom Penh’s Olympic Stadium had damaged the image of the national team and singled out the involvement of their coaching staff for particular criticism.
“The association would like to express its disappointment and apologise for the chaotic incident that occurred off-pitch,” the TFA said in a statement.
“Especially the staff and coach who represent all Thais, during every minute of their duty, they must maintain their calm emotions under high pressure.