Thailand’s coach frustrated with referees in match against China

Thailand’s coach Thawatchai Damrong Ongtrakul was upset with the referees following the goalless draw with China U23, due to multiple contentious calls affecting the result.

The friendly match between Thailand U23 and China U23 on the evening of October 14 at Kunming Haigeng Training Center (China) ended in a 0-0 draw, but what sparked the most discussion among fans was not the scoreline, but the puzzling decisions by the referees that left coach Thawatchai Damrong Ongtrakul “bowing his head in helplessness.”

This was the second friendly in the October FIFA Days series between the two teams. In the first match (behind closed doors), Thailand initially led but eventually lost 1-3. In the rematch, Thailand U23 played more tightly and managed to hold the hosts to a draw over 90 minutes.

However, the second half grew tense as several referee decisions stirred controversy. Most notably, a Chinese player deliberately elbowed Thailand’s Phattharaphon Sukka-kit near the end of the first half. Despite clear footage showing the foul, the referee only issued a yellow card, prompting strong protests from coach Thawatchai and the Thai coaching staff.

The situation peaked in the final minutes when the referee refused Thailand’s request for an additional substitution, claiming “three substitutions have already been made.” Thailand’s side insisted they had only made three changes and still had substitutions left under the rules. This misunderstanding infuriated coach Thawatchai, who even asked the Chinese coaching staff to intervene and clarify the rules with the referee and match officials. Once confirmed, Thailand was allowed to make the substitution and the game continued normally.

After the match, Thai media collectively criticized the refereeing, accusing it of “favoring the home team” in many decisions. Nonetheless, the 0-0 draw was seen as a positive sign for Thailand U23’s preparations for the 2025 SEA Games, as coach Thawatchai’s team is gradually shaping its playing style and squad.

Although Thailand U23 failed to score in this friendly, coach Thawatchai’s team gained valuable lessons both tactically and in handling unexpected situations on the international field.