SEA Games 33 Controversy: Thailand Criticized for Ignoring Vietnam U22 Team
The closing ceremony of the 33rd SEA Games caused a stir when the host country Thailand's summary video did not include images of the Vietnamese U22 team winning the gold medal, triggering a strong reaction from Southeast Asian fans.
The incident during the closing ceremony sparked controversy.
The closing ceremony of the 33rd SEA Games at Rajamangala Stadium ended with an unfortunate blemish: the host country Thailand's concluding video did not show the moment of victory for the Vietnam U22 team. This was considered one of the highlight matches of the Games, where the Vietnamese team staged an impressive comeback against Thailand U22 to win the gold medal.
This omission immediately sparked a strong backlash from the football fan community in the region. Many argued that ignoring the champion in the most popular sport was unacceptable and demonstrated a lack of professionalism on the part of the organizers.
A wave of reactions from Southeast Asian fans.
On forums and social media, many fans expressed their anger. One scathing comment stated: "How unprofessional! They ignored the highlight match of the entire SEA Games." Opinions suggested that a regional sporting event should be organized fairly and respectfully, rather than being dominated by emotions.
Some fans even recalled similar incidents in the past, arguing that this was not the first time Thailand had engaged in controversial behavior related to Vietnam. This further fueled criticism aimed at the host country's image.
Different perspectives
Alongside the criticism, there were a few more sympathetic viewpoints. One fan shared: "Sympathize with them, losing at home after leading 2-0 like that is hard to swallow!" However, the majority of the online community argued that disappointment in sports cannot be a reason to justify disrespecting the opponent.
On the Vietnamese fans' side, many asserted that the championship had already been recorded in history and did not need recognition from Thailand's video. "I've seen images of Vietnamese fans celebrating wildly all over social media in recent days; Vietnam doesn't need Thailand's recognition of the victory!" one user commented.
This incident has left a negative impression of the 33rd SEA Games. The strong reaction from the regional public shows that the value of fair play and mutual respect is always paramount in any sporting event.
