Thai fans react to Supachok's explanation

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Supachok Sarachat scored an unsportsmanlike goal against the Vietnamese national team in the match on the evening of January 5th. The Thai star has spoken out, and his explanation continues to be a subject of controversy.

In the second leg of the 2024 AFF Cup final on the evening of January 5th, Supachok scored a controversial goal when the Vietnamese team thought he would return the ball in a fair-play manner. Under pressure from public opinion, the Thai striker explained on his personal page that the intense pressure of the match prevented him from paying attention to returning the ball, and that he did not intentionally score an ugly goal. Supachok's explanation further fueled controversy among Thai fans, with some supporting and others opposing the actions of their star player.

Supachok competes in the match against Vietnam on the evening of January 5th (Photo: Huong Duong).

Athiwat Charoenchai commented: "In sports , competitive spirit and fairness are always paramount. We need to accept wins and losses and maintain our competitive spirit, because competition isn't always fair. The Vietnamese team kicked the ball out of bounds. In the spirit of sportsmanship, the ball should have been returned to the opponent to continue the game. Whether their kicking the ball out was justified or not, it's still the spirit we should strive for. When we win, we experience complete joy. Conversely, if we lose, we shouldn't be ashamed. My feelings are still focused on waiting for a fair and sportsmanship-filled match." Pichet Chet Choorak's account also criticized Supachok's goal-scoring approach: "In the world of sports, fighting spirit is always the most important factor. It's understandable that a national team player like Supachok feels pressure. However, it would be better if we could play superiorly and win clearly. Whether the Vietnamese team deliberately wasted time or not is not the main issue. In professional football, victory is not based solely on points. Clearly, we need to improve more, especially in building a systematic playing style instead of relying only on individual ability. As a citizen of the country, I always support the Thai team to go further. However, like many Thai people, I must criticize the team because victory doesn't just come from a good player, but also from other factors. In this case, Supachok admitted that being too determined to win led to him forgetting himself. He has stated that he will not repeat this." "And this again, so please forgive me."

Vietnamese players react to Supachok's unsportsmanlike goal (Photo: Huong Duong)

For many, sportsmanship is important alongside the match result. Thanakorn Wechpracha commented: "In the world of sports, spirit and heart are two indispensable elements in creating an excellent athlete. However, there are times when these elements seem to be forgotten, leaving us fans disappointed. This is the truth." Juloh Develeoh stated: "Knowing how to win, knowing how to lose, knowing how to forgive. More important than anything is sportsmanship, where respect, fairness, and tolerance are always paramount." Kao Yana commented: "Many people think our players lacked the necessary fighting spirit. However, the players speaking up might have been the right choice in this situation. Humans naturally have emotions like greed, resentment, and loss. Supachok's actions are not admirable, but they shouldn't be criticized excessively either. Because even a small mistake can lead to serious consequences, such as being penalized by the referee." Kavee Minni expressed her opinion: "Even with unsportsmanlike play, Thailand still lost. That makes me extremely disappointed with the team participating in this tournament." Somchai Srikot commented: "Seriously, it was a beautiful goal, but we don't need to be like that. Fair play is the most important thing in sports, and we should maintain it in every match." The user Rungsrit Kanjanavanit commented: "I can't imagine the immense pressure national team players are under. As spectators, we can all help make the game a beautiful one by focusing on beautiful play, sportsmanship, and fairness, not just the result. Personally, I think excessive nationalism isn't a good thing. It's something to enjoy."

Thai players celebrate after Supachok scored against Vietnam (Photo: Huong Duong).

Alongside those who criticized Supachok, there were also fans who showed sympathy and support for him. The user Eakaphol Sri sympathized with Supachok: "This was also part of the game. The opposing goalkeeper kicked the ball out because two players weren't ready to play. That was a disadvantage for us, while the opponent benefited from it. We could have continued playing legally, without having to return the ball. But if he kicked it out because one of our players was injured, we have to retake it for him." The user Jakaphatchara Buranabutr supported the Thai star: "Don't worry about anything. I'm encouraging you. Do well, do your best. Keep going. Don't worry about what happened." The user Amnat Srisak said: "Don't worry. It's enough that Thai fans understand you. You've tried your best for the Thai national team. Keep fighting." The user Orachoonh Nagaviroj expressed confidence in the home team player's explanation: "I believe in Supachok's professionalism. I supported him on the field. At that moment, I was confused when I saw the Vietnamese players protesting the beautiful and clean shot. When I learned more details, it was understandable that the referee explained and checked. Let's go!" The user Superbaby Ja-chaaem shared: "Supachok did very well. Don't stress about what's happening. Thank you to all the players who tried their best and fought with all their hearts throughout the tournament, even though we couldn't win the championship."

Dantri.com.vn

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/cdv-thai-lan-phan-ung-truc-giai-trinh-cua-supachok-20250107061220298.htm