Thai fans boycott stadium at SEA Games 33 over ID requirements.
Ultras Thailand announced they would not attend the SEA Games 33 football matches to protest the requirement to register ID cards when buying tickets and the arrangement of the cheering area behind the goalposts.
On December 1st, the Ultras Thailand fan group announced a boycott of stadium entry for football matches at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 33). The main reasons cited were the ticket regulations requiring fans to register with their national identity cards and the arrangement of the cheering area behind the goalposts.
Statement from Ultras Thailand
According to a statement posted on social media, Ultras Thailand confirmed they will be present at the venues for football matches in which the Thai national team participates (men's football, women's football, men's futsal, women's futsal), but will not enter the stadiums until the sports governing body resolves the complaints.
The group highlighted concerns about privacy and data security: “Forcing people to register personal information before entering a stadium violates the fundamental freedoms of sports fans.” They called the condition “not safe, but unjust.”
In addition, Ultras Thailand protested the management of the cheering area: "The placement of the away team's area behind the goal gives the away team an advantage and reduces pressure behind the goal for Ultras Thailand fans."
The core issue: personal data and the atmosphere in the stands.
- Requiring the registration of ID cards when purchasing tickets and entering the stadium is considered a violation of the fundamental freedoms of spectators.
- Cybersecurity risks associated with providing personal information.
- According to the Ultras group, positioning the away team's cheering area behind the goal diminishes the home team's advantage in terms of support.
Forms of protest and related developments
Ultras Thailand affirmed their "standside with the national team," but stressed that they would not accept "the Thai Sports Authority's management of this football event" until their complaints were considered.
As of the time of publication, AFP stated that it had not yet been able to contact the Sports Authority or the national football federation for an official response.
The schedule for the 33rd SEA Games has been announced.
Thailand is hosting the 33rd SEA Games from December 9th to 20th. The opening football match between Thailand and East Timor is scheduled to take place on December 3rd in Bangkok.
If this long-time fan group's boycott of stadium entry continues, it could mean the familiar cheers of the Thai Ultras will be absent from the stands during matches involving their home team.
