TPL
Ratchaburi 3-1 Chonburi
Ratchaburi Central Stadium
Attendance: 5,158
Sunday 1st March, 2015
Match Report
My dad is in his 80s. In his youth he played football at a reasonable level and has been watching the game for most of his life. And even though he has been to many Thai matches over the years, I don't think I've seen him look quite as exasperated as he did at times last night. He literally couldn't believe his eyes. At the final whistle he paused for thought - not something that a straightforward Northern working class bloke usually does - before saying, "What a bloody pantomime!" And with those four words, he pretty much summed up the Thai Premier League match between Ratchaburi and Chonburi.
And the villain of the piece? The referee (there were others - more of which later). I glossed over the poor performance of the Man in the Middle in our opening fixture against Saraburi but I'm not going to this time because compared to the joker we had last night, he was Pierluigi Collina. The bloke simply had no authority, control or basic understanding of the Laws of the Game. I'm still mystified as to why we had a goal disallowed when the score was 0-0. There looked nothing wrong with it from the away end and it still appears to be OK after repeated video viewings. But that was just the start...
Why didn't their lad get a straight red for a two footed knee high "tackle" on dos Santos? Even from a hundred yards away it looked like a career threatening challenge. A real shocker. But the official thought a yellow card would suffice. Bottler! This was an assault. Let's hope that the authorities look at this and act. A five match ban - at least - for the perpetrator. (Interestingly, our official site has edited the incident out of the highlights. Why? It should be repeated over and over again. Bottlers!!)
And to prove it wasn't all one way - I can't believe he didn't send off Korrakot after he was pushed by the full back following his decision to award a penalty. Surely there are no grey areas there? Shove the ref and you're off. But again, he bottled it. Weak and spineless.
As for the penalty itself...oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. Outside of a swimming pool, you won't see a more blatant dive. It looked pretty obvious from my vantage point on the terraces in real time but the highlights just show how outrageous it was. It's awful. Another one for the top nobs from FAT and TPL to study as they sit po faced around that big table of theirs.
There were also a couple more incidents that highlighted his total lack of control. Firstly, the home side's goal celebrations went way beyond what is acceptable. They included one goalscorer not only leaving the field of play but climbing into the main stand, ascending the steps and kissing someone who I presume is his girlfriend. And his punishment? Sweet Fanny Adams. (That's not - as far as I know - the name of the young lady in question). Surely should've been a booking. But hey! It's all in good fun. And then there was the constant time wasting and injury feigning.
Like Chainat last week, Ratchaburi weren't afraid to dish it out (nothing wrong with that) but as soon as any of our players went near them, down they would go and remain there until the over worked (and no doubt under paid) stretcher bearers came on to carry them the couple of yards to the touchline. Where, they would miraculously leap up again and immediately return to the field of play - in space to receive the ball. This, of course, is a long standing problem here but the Sugar Puffs (see what I did there?) currently seem to be the best exponents of it. Which is alright if you like that kind of thing I suppose but yet again, our friend with the whistle did nothing.
OK. Now it's time to leave that poor man alone and look at our own villains. They are - in no particular order - the two full backs (tears out hair), Adul (he had a shocker last night) and Leandro (a bit harsh on our leading scorer but he should have scored a hat trick before they went in front). In addition, we seemed to lose our discipline as the decisions piled up against us - most noticably after the spot kick was given. I guess it was understandable but it's never nice to see Chonburi players hounding a referee like that, regardless of how rubbish he is.
And finally...the home fans. They were actually booing Therdsak every time he touched the ball after coming on as a late substitute. Classless, clueless, graceless oiks. I think his contribution to local football is far greater than theirs. It's pretty easy to put on a replica shirt and stand in a crowd while a berk with a megaphone tells you what to do. It's not so easy to keep playing - and performing - at the highlest level when you're in your forties. Bunch of oafs.
So there you have it. Apart from their second goal - which was pure class - it didn't feel like a football match last night. It was more akin to watching a rowdy class of five year olds being "supervised" by an incompetent supply teacher. Ladies and gentlemen, the Thai Premier League at its absolute crummy, stinking, rotten worst.
"Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?"
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