Football fans find outlet
The general mourning instructions issued by the government after the passing of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej were flexible and sensible. There were always going to be exceptions. As Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha advised, don’t mock people in “different clothes”—they may be in a mandatory work uniform. As Deputy Prime Minister Wissanu Krea-ngam said, think the best of everyone and don’t be judgemental of exactly how to refer to the late King.
The “ban” on entertainment was always going to present specific problems and require explicit consideration and rulings. A prohibition against “large parties” seems sensible, until one considers the actual size, and the purpose of the gathering. “Joyful” TV programming appears to be a fair prohibition — but of course every citizen feels some joy every time the screen shows His Majesty travelling the country to visit the people he loved.
Organised sport was always going to present trouble for the general ban on entertainment. That is not only because people take part in many thousands of sporting competitions, not to mention fitness and health activities. Domestic, professional sport was banned outright including Thai Premier League football. SCG Muang Thong United, who led the standings, were declared champions without a match after the passing of the King.
International sport is an entirely different problem to consider. Cancellation of all games means foregoing Thailand’s obligation to one or many foreign countries, and is really unfair by Thai standards. Thailand’s national football team is involved in a year-long tournament with five other countries for two spots at the 2018 World Cup finals in Russia.
Thailand’s next match is scheduled for Nov 15, when the War Elephants are to host Australia’s Socceroos. This was a headache for the government and mourners, with many possible solutions, ranging from outright cancellation to a two-hour holiday from mourning. Both of these extremes are unacceptable to any reasonable person, so after a week of consideration, a decision was reached.
Consideration was given to a number of possible solutions. The match could be held outside Thailand at a neutral ground. It could be played entirely behind closed doors, with no spectators.
These are actually common solutions to professional games played in difficult circumstances. The government’s advisers and the Football Association of Thailand have reached a different, novel and inventive decision.
The match will proceed on schedule. Football fans can fill the Rajamangala National Stadium’s 49,749 seats. They must dress in subdued clothing, in keeping with national mourning and the mood of the country. No team-supporting banners will be allowed past the stadium entrance. Artificial noisemakers are banned — drums, whistles, thunder sticks and the like. The rules also call for a ban on portable amplifiers for cheering.
Football Association of Thailand president Pol Gen Somyot Poompunmuang has asked Thai and Australian fans to cool their partisan cheering. That’s a tough order for football fans whose team just scored a goal, and in an international match at that. Australia has a credible shot at making the World Cup finals. Fellow Group B competitor Thailand’s hopes are fast fading, but Thai fans will be heartened by any success against the visitors.
This is a novel, welcome solution to a unique conundrum during this low point of the nation’s morale. Congratulations are due to Pol Gen Somyot and those who brainstormed such a knotty problem.
One hopes the football fans who attend this match on Nov 15 appreciate and abide by the spirit in which it is offered.
This is a novel, welcome solution to a unique conundrum.