In the second leg of the 2024 ASEAN Cup final at Rajamangala Stadium (5.1), midfielder Supachok's goal to raise the score to 2-1 for Thailand caused controversy.
In the previous situation, the Vietnamese team proactively pushed the ball out when a player in red was lying on the field. However, Supachok did not return the ball but decided to shoot and score.
In fact, according to the law, Thailand's goal was valid when the ball was in play and there was no collision, the referee had no right to deny it. However, Vietnam had reason to complain because their opponent did not play fair.
Recently, insiders shared this story in a TV show that aired right after the celebration (January 6).
Center back Duy Manh said: "At that time, Hoang Duc was hurt and Dinh Trieu kicked the ball out of bounds. But then, instead of returning the ball, Thailand decided to score. That was an unfair way of handling the situation and was also an unexpected situation for the Vietnamese team.
We were very upset. I talked to the referee about the bad behavior of the opponent. The referee replied that I had to negotiate with the Thai captain.
I talked to Peeradol, asking him why Thailand played so unfairly. I pointed to Supachok, saying why are you playing in Japan and acting like that?
The Thai team replied that they did not know whether the Vietnamese player was really in pain or pretending to be in pain. Obviously, Supachok must have felt ashamed of that situation. When the referee recognized the goal, coach Kim Sang-sik reminded us to focus on the game again. In the end, Vietnam won the match."
Meanwhile, Thanh Chung revealed: "I felt very uncomfortable. I rushed towards Supachok, although my English was limited, it was enough to say, 'You play football in this or that tournament and you behave like that?'".
Center back Bui Tien Dung shared in an event on the evening of January 6: "When the other team did not play fair in that goal, the referee decided to give the score 2-1, the whole team was very upset. The spirit of the brothers at that time played with more determination, in the one-on-one situations, we definitely did not lose."
For his part, coach Kim Sang-sik shared: "When I was playing football at Jeonbuk (Korea), the team also suffered a similar situation. At that time, I was very upset. Therefore, when I saw Thailand score a goal like that, I felt they did not deserve to win the championship. My students argued with the referee and the opposing players.
On the outside, I was worried that the players might get a card or do something bad that would affect the team. So I advised my players to calm down. The referee also came out to talk to me, saying that there was nothing he could do.
After that situation, I thought Thailand gave the ball back to Vietnam to score as a fair-play act. But in the end, they didn't do that. I felt surprised and very upset. However, I am still confident that the team won and the Vietnam team fought to the end."
Previously, Supachok had explained the controversial goal at the ASEAN Cup 2024. In it, he emphasized: "I did not know that while I was complaining to the referee, the Vietnamese team kicked the ball out to support the injured player. Due to disappointment with the referee's decision, plus emotional tension, after the match continued, I instinctively kicked the ball into the net from a pass from a teammate."
