TPL
BEC Tero 1-3 Chonburi
72nd Anniversary Stadium, Min Buri
Attendance: 1,676
Saturday 6th August, 2016
Match report
by Peter Reeves
You know Thai referees – one brain cell between the lot of them.
When we pay money to see a sporting event, and I know this is totally unreasonable, we half expect to find that competitors are equipped with what they need to participate. Perhaps in tennis we expect the players to have a few balls, or swimmers to have water in the pool. Perhaps boxers are allowed to hit each other from time to time. In Rio maybe high jumpers have something to jump over or cycle racers have a bike.
Is it therefore possible that when they play football in Thailand they can have a pitch that is playable? Evidently not. But then we are at the mercy of a group of people recognized mainly for their total incompetence in anything related to footballing matters, occasionally for corruption and bribery and on the odd occasion alleged murder. We therefore do not expect anything remotely approaching common sense or efficiency let alone intelligence.
Before the match the pitch looked in a poor state. Within 5 minutes of the start there were large pools of water appearing, by 20 minutes that was it. There was no question, with it still pouring down it was totally unplayable everywhere, with large oceans of water covering vast swathes of what was once a pitch and the rest of it covered in at least two inches of the wet stuff.
Lines on the pitch- quite an important feature, Thai referees please note - had disappeared in places as demonstrated by Adul who picked the ball up to take a throw in only to be judged of handball because he didn’t know where the touch line was. A BEC player tried to take a corner from the ‘deep end’ by the corner flag and it travelled 2 metres despite a hefty hoof.
At half time we were treated to more comedy as the officials tried to bounce balls in the puddles and looking confused because they wouldn’t bounce, Duh! Then a delay, when minions were sent on to the pitch with what looked like squeegee mops from the US Open tennis, to sweep away the water. It was still raining, Einstein. It made no difference. But then it got worse-they played on.
It amounted in legal terms to “Tortious Misrepresentation”. The product sold to the customer was not fit for purpose and therefore refunds should be given. People had gone to watch a football match, not a water theme park comedy farce, which while hugely funny and some might say entertaining, not why people were there. Is it beyond administrative competence that an abandoned match can be re-scheduled? With this administration, probably.
The ‘match’? Irrelevant and hardly worth too much comment. BEC scored in the first minute. Disallowed for offside. When the ball was played he wasn’t. Well done officials. BEC had two more water borne chances in the next 5 minutes.
On 11 another simple chance for BEC defended well by the large puddle on the edge of the box. On 16 Chanin nearly punched it in his own net and it landed on the bar. And to restore some semblance of normality Pokklaw took his usual kick at an opponent after the ball had gone and was booked. It seems even a good soaking doesn’t cool him down.
On 38 minutes, the Sharks first real attempt on goal, as Rodrigo assisted by puddles holding the ball up saw a shot saved. BEC hit the post 3 times, Chonburi 3 times. A draw would have been the fair result given BEC should have been out of sight after 10 minutes.
Four goals in the second half, two suspected drowned, Therdsak back in his plastic mac and the Navy nowhere to be seen for a rescue operation. That was it. So another glowing testimonial to the ‘professionalism’ of Thai football. Up ‘the standards’, eh chaps! The rain they could do nothing about. The decisions to play on they could. Those of us that come from the ‘real’ footballing world know what would have happened.
So with large areas of the pitch covered boot deep in water and it still pouring down why wasn’t it abandoned after 20 minutes? I suppose the brain cell was being used elsewhere. Either that or it’s just given up completely and left the country which is far more likely. Who can blame it.
Webmaster's comments
While I totally agree with Peter's opinion that the match should have been abandoned, I have to comment on the atmosphere in the away end - and one or two other things. As we saw at Sukhothai in similar conditions earlier in the season, the adverse weather really seemed to bring people together and we were determined to make the most of a silly situation. The singing and dancing was non stop and some of the improvised rain wear was exceptional. It really was a privilege to be a part of it. Those fans certainly did want the match called off.
Credit too to the BEC ground staff. Even though the equipment they had was primitive - to say the least - they did make an effort to improve the playing surface. There are plenty of clubs who wouldn't even have bothered, so they do deserve some recognition for this.
I have seen Thai league matches played in worse conditions. Two at Samut Songkhram and one particular occasion in Nakhon Pathom, which ended with the entire away support sheltering in the away dressing room with the team for ninety minutes post match, as we waited for the biblical storm to stop.
Clearly something needs to be done in situations like yesterday (and in other areas too!), if the PLT wants to be taken seriously, but as an event, I'll carry the fond memories of last night with me for a long time. It's all part of the rich tapestry of being a football fan.
No comments:
Post a Comment