Philippine club: The 'noise' of Vietnamese fans is worth reflecting on.
Following the controversial SEA Games 33 final, Manila Montet FC of the Philippines was surprised by the reaction of Vietnamese fans, but called it a manifestation of a profound football culture.
A Philippine perspective on the passion of Vietnamese fans.
Following the SEA Games 33 women's football final, a club in the Philippines shared noteworthy insights about the strong reaction from Vietnamese fans. Manila Montet FC, a team competing in the Philippine National Football League (PFL), stated that they witnessed a surge in social media engagement, largely from Vietnamese fans, after the Philippine women's team controversially won the gold medal.
The main reason for this wave of reactions stems from the fact that Bich Thuy's goal for the Vietnamese women's national team was disallowed due to an error by the assistant referee. This led to heated debates on many platforms, including the official website of Manila Montet FC.
When 'noise' becomes a cultural expression
Instead of simply viewing these as criticisms, Manila Montet FC offered a more insightful perspective. They argued that this "noise" actually reflects a passionate love of football and a deeply ingrained sporting culture among the Vietnamese people.
"In Vietnam, football is not just about what happens in 90 minutes and between 22 players, but it's also about the public, about debate, analysis, and the release of emotions. This is something worth reflecting on," the club wrote on its page.
Differences in the depth of passion
Manila Montet FC also reflected on the domestic context. They acknowledged that despite the national team's historic gold medal win, the initial enthusiasm in the Philippines quickly subsided. They attributed this to the fact that the football culture there hasn't been strongly developed.
"Vietnam has built that culture over decades. The love of football grows through pain, controversy, dialogue, and sharing emotions," the club stated. Previously, they themselves admitted that their victory at the SEA Games was partly due to referee errors and affirmed: "The joy of victory does not mean the Filipinos will overlook that moment of error."
This incident highlights the differences in fan culture between the two countries. For Vietnamese fans, football is not just a match, but also a platform to express emotions and national pride, something that the Philippines is still in the process of building.
