Japanese Coach Sparks Outrage by Dropping Theerathon

23/09/2025 20:58:00 soccer

Coach Masatada Ishii's choice to remove Theerathon Bunmathan from the October roster has provoked intense reactions among Thai supporters, with numerous opinions suggesting it shows a lack of respect for a veteran.

The omission of Theerathon Bunmathan and Teerasil Dangda by coach Masatada Ishii for the two matches against Taiwan (China) in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers has stirred a storm of controversy across Thai social media platforms. Although the reason given was “team rejuvenation,” the inclusion of several players over 30 years old like Chanathip Songkrasin and Suphan Thongsong has led fans to feel this is unfair. Many believe this inconsistency undermines supporters’ trust.

The case of Theerathon is particularly contentious. At 34, the Buriram United defender continues to perform steadily in Thai League, playing full matches in important games and demonstrating excellent fitness. Fans believe his experience and international composure are crucial for helping Thailand’s national team through its current challenges.

An upset fan commented: “Theerathon is still playing very well; dropping him only weakens the team.”Another remarked: “They say it’s about youth, but Chanathip is still called up, so is it fair to exclude Theerathon?”.

Two key players, Theerathon Bunmathan and Teerasil Dangda, omitted from the October call-up list

In reality, Thailand is going through a poor run, having lost 1-3 to Turkmenistan in June and earning only 3 points from two qualifying matches. The upcoming games against Taiwan on October 9 and 14 are critical, but the absence of experienced leaders makes securing six points even more difficult. Another social media comment read: “Without Theerathon and Teerasil, who will lead the team at this crucial time?”.

Notably, at the King’s Cup earlier this month, coach Ishii also left out Bunmathan and Dangda but gave chances to other older players. This has intensified suspicions of favoritism in the Japanese coach’s selection process. Some fans even claim he is deliberately sidelining veterans: “Both have proven their quality; excluding them is like pushing the team into a crisis.”.

Pressure mounts on coach Ishii ahead of two matches against Taiwan in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers

Both Theerathon and Teerasil are icons of Thai football, having often served as leaders guiding the national team in major regional and continental tournaments. Their absence not only weakens the “War Elephants” but also creates a rift between the coaching staff and the fans.

With the goal of advancing in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, Thailand’s national team needs unity more than ever. However, coach Ishii’s decision is pushing the squad into a crisis of confidence, and fan anger may persist if results in October fall short of expectations.

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