With the Chonburi Stadium food and drink ban now seemingly lifted, here's the story, from August, 2011, behind why it was first introduced.
CLUB HOPES TO ESCAPE AFC PUNISHMENT
14th August, 2011
Chonburi are confident that they will escape punishment from the AFC following incidents during and after yesterday's match. General manager Anop Singhtothong has promised a full report will be forwarded to the Asian Federation but expects that the association will take no action because the trouble occured during a league fixture.
However, the TPL are expected to dish out severe penalties when the committee meets to discuss the matter this coming Tuesday. Club officials have agreed to cooperate fully with the league and review security measures in order to ensure there will be no repeat. The have also said that they will accept whatever punishment is handed out.
CHONBURI v PEA : POST MATCH FALLOUT
15th August, 2011
The referee in charge of Saturday's match will go before a TPL panel on Wednesday. Chayareut Ngamsom is likely to face suspension following his handling of the top of the table clash. His appointment has already been criticised by Chonburi coach Witthaya Laohkul and it now it appears that the league representatives expressed doubts about his suitability to officiate in such a fixture during the run up to the game.
Chonburi will face a hearing of their own on Tuesday and have already agreed to cooperate fully with the investigation. They will accept any punishment that is meted out.
Meanwhile, opponents Provincial Electric Authority have submitted their own report to the TPL. In it, they claim that they were trapped inside the stadium for two hours after the match, by home fans who had gathered on the car park. They also allege that their team bus was damaged and a tire was let down.
PEA chairman Newin Chidchob is reported as saying that he's not so much concerned with the damage to the bus but to "the image of Thai football". He also called for a ban on cups, bottles and alcohol inside all Thai league grounds, a rule that they have at his own i-Mobile Stadium.
ONE MATCH BAN FOR FANS?
16th August, 2011
Unconfirmed reports suggest that Chonburi will have to play the next TPL home match behind closed doors, following incidents during and after Saturday's game with PEA.
The club has also said that fans will not be allowed to take drinks and snacks in to tomorrow night's League Cup tie.
LEAGUE CUP TIE TO BE MOVED?
16th August, 2011
Latest confirmed reports suggest that the authorities are considering moving tomorrow night's League Cup tie, against Muang Thong Utd, to Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok as part of the punishment for Saturday's incidents.
TIE CONFIRMED FOR CHONBURI STADIUM
16th August, 2011
Tomorrow's League Cup tie has been confirmed for Chonburi Stadium. Kick off is at 7:00pm
PUNISHMENT SUMMARY
17th August, 2011
Chonburi have received the following punishments as a result of incidents at the stadium last Saturday:
A B20,000 fine.
Fans will not be allowed to attend the next TPL home match (v Navy 4/10).
PEA's Frank Acheampong has been fined B10,000 for his provocative goal celebrations in front of the Chonburi fans.
The match referee Chayareut Ngamsom will face a TPL/FAT panel today, to explain his handling of the game.
Chonburi have increased security for tonight's League Cup tie against Muang Thong United. There will be greater segregation of rival fans and over four hundred police and security staff will be on duty. Supporters will not be able to take bottles, cups or any other items that may be used as missiles into the ground.
Club chairman Wiithaya Kunpluem accepted the punishment at yesterday's three hour meeting and has promised that the club will doing everything in its power to ensure there's no repeat.
"Nobody wants to see this sort of thing at Thai football matches. Hopefully, everyone will have learned something from this incident. It is not good for fans to cause trouble in this way and we accept our punishment."
He went on to say,"We would like our supporters to accept this decision and help to monitor the behaviour of their fellow fans in future."
NEW POLL ADDED
September, 2011
The club's decision to ban fans from taking food and drink inside the stadium (see photo) has prompted me to add a new poll to the site. In my opinion, this is a petty, ridiculous and totally unnecessary move by the management and should be challenged. However, I'd like your thoughts on the subject. Therefore I'd be grateful if you'd take a few seconds to vote. The poll - Should fans be allowed to take food and drink inside the stadium? - can be found at the foot of the homepage.
No prizes for guessing which way I'll be voting.
Thank you.
FOOD & DRINKS : POLL RESULT
September, 2011
Should fans be allowed to take food and drink inside Chonburi Stadium?
93% - Yes
7% - No
Thank you for voting.
My Comments
If anyone from the club is reading this, please I urge you to reconsider the ban on food and drink inside the stadium. We are allowed to take these things in to other grounds but we can't do it at home. This seems utterly ridiculous to me - especially when you consider that three of our major sponsors are Chang, Big Cola and Har Dao fast foods - and has taken away a lot of the enjoyment from the matchday experience. Sharing food and drink with the people sitting around you has always been one of the most enjoyable aspects of watching football in Thailand. It is such a shame that we can no longer do it inside our own ground. Please, think again.
