Scandal in the Thai League: Port FC faces heavy penalties.
Just days after their defeat in the SEA Games 33 final, Port FC admitted to using foreign players in violation of regulations in the National Cup, facing the risk of forfeiting the match.
Serious administrative error
Thai football continues to face turbulent times as top club Port FC admits to serious violations of competition regulations, just days after the U22 team's defeat to Vietnam in the SEA Games 33 final.
The incident occurred during Port FC's 2-0 victory over True Bangkok United in the Round of 32 of the 2025/26 Chang FA Cup on the evening of December 21st. Despite winning at PAT Stadium, Port FC used a number of foreign players exceeding the permitted limit from the 79th minute of the match.
The rules have been broken.
According to the regulations of the Chang FA Cup organizing committee, when two clubs from the same league face each other, the number of foreign players must comply with the Thai League regulations. Specifically, each team is only allowed to field a maximum of 7 foreign players, including 5 players of any nationality and 2 players from ASEAN countries. This error could lead to severe penalties for Port FC, including the possibility of forfeiting the match.
An apology and an uncertain future.
In an official statement, the management and coaching staff of Port FC apologized to the fans. The club acknowledged this as a "major and unnecessary loss," directly impacting the team's goals for the 2025/26 season, and pledged to review all procedures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
This scandal further damages the image of Thai football, especially after they suffered a shock defeat to Vietnam U22 in the SEA Games 33 final. These successive controversies raise serious questions about the stability and professionalism of Thai football.