ASEAN Cup 2026: Controversy erupts as Thailand revives controversy over Supachok's unsportsmanlike goal.
Thailand's choice of Supachok Sarachat's infamous goal as the iconic image for the 2026 ASEAN Cup draw has sparked strong public backlash.
The draw ceremony for the ASEAN Cup 2026 group stage, held on the afternoon of January 15th in Guangzhou, unexpectedly became more heated than ever due to a highly sensitive detail. In the video introducing the participating teams, Thailand decided to choose an image of striker Supachok Sarachat's controversial goal against Vietnam a year ago as a key highlight.
The moment of unfair play has been brought up again.
This action immediately sparked outrage among Vietnamese football fans. The moment shown on the big screen brought back memories of a play deemed unsportsmanlike. Specifically, in the second leg of the AFF Cup (the predecessor of the ASEAN Cup) final held in Thailand, an unusual incident occurred in the 64th minute.
At that moment, a Vietnamese player was lying on the ground in pain, and his teammates proactively kicked the ball out of bounds so that medical staff could attend to him. According to the unwritten rules of fair play, the team awarded the throw-in usually returns the ball to the opposing team. However, Ben Davis quickly took the throw-in to Supachok Sarachat, allowing the striker to easily shoot the ball past goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu, much to the astonishment of the entire Vietnamese defense.
The resistance and resilience of a champion.
Although Supachok later clarified that he was unaware of the context of the situation, the "blemish" regarding football ethics persists. The Thai organizers' reuse of this image at a formal event like the draw ceremony is seen as "rubbing salt into an old wound," increasing the drama and rivalry between the two leading football nations in the region ahead of the new tournament.
However, history also records the unwavering spirit of the Golden Star Warriors. Under the leadership of coach Kim Sang-sik, the Vietnamese team at that time did not let the psychological shock defeat them. The whole team rose strongly, staging a comeback to win 3-2 in that match (winning with an aggregate score of 5-3) to officially claim the championship title.
Notable statistics about the historic match
| Parameter | Vietnam national team | Thailand national team |
|---|---|---|
| Second leg score | 3 | 2 |
| Final total score | 5 | 3 |
| Result | Champion | Runner-up |
It seems that revisiting this controversial past has inadvertently become a powerful morale booster for the Vietnamese players. This will motivate coach Kim Sang-sik and his team to prepare more thoroughly for their goal of defending their title at the upcoming ASEAN Cup 2026.