The director of Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) has reasoned that, because the cancellation of pre-season friendly match between Leicester City and Tottenham Hotspur was caused by the flooding of Rajamangala Stadium’s pitch after heavy rain, it was “an act of God.”
Kongsak Yodmanee said all involved feared that playing football on a flooded pitch would put the safety of the footballers at risk.
The match was cancelled after both club’s managerial teams inspected the pitch, after a heavy downpour, and found that there was just too much standing water. The playing surface is in a dire state, with the pitch markings washed away.
Many Thai netizens branded the incident as an embarrassing in the eyes of the world. Some criticised the stadium as having been commercialised to host a series of international concerts, instead of football matches.
Moreover, the stadium is a national and modern one, therefore flooding should not be the reason that it could not be used.
A Thai netizen commented “Come on. What? Flooding in the Rajamangala national stadium? Those involved in supervising the stadium should be ashamed of themselves.”
Another wrote “It is an international match that was to be broadcast live in many countries. The reason for cancelling the match is heavy rain and flooding on the pitch. What a shame!”
BANGKOK, THAILAND – JULY 23: Groundsmen attempt to clear the rain from the pitch after a heavy downpour ahead of the pre-season friendly match between Tottenham Hotspur and Leicester City at Rajamangala Stadium on July 23, 2023 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images)
Chanathip Songkrasin, a Thai national midfielder, said earlier this month that the stadium has been commercialised and he, as a Thai national team player, has not played there for more than five years.
“The stadium authority has allowed international concerts to be held there many times. It adjusted the pitch for a match between Manchester United and Liverpool last year, but not for the Thai national team” he said.
The stadium hosted international concerts by Lady Gaga in 2012, Ed Sheeran in 2017, Maroon 5 in 2022, as well as Korea’s super bands like BTS and Blackpink.
Spurs and Leicester have solid fan bases in Thailand, while the top three football clubs for Thai supporters are Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea.
Leicester City is well known in Thailand because it is owned by Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha, CEO of Thai King Power. The team has been relegated from the Premier League to championship level.
Some of their international fans flew into Bangkok to watch the match, only to find it cancelled.
Kongsak insisted on Monday that the stadium is regularly maintained, especially the drainage system. “I would like to confirm that the drainage system is at its best efficiency, but it is an act of God. Moreover, the stadium is 30 years old and needs major renovations” he said, adding that his office has discussed renovation plans with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, but they have not yet been finalized.
Spurs will meet Lion City Sailors FC on July 26 and Leicester will play against Liverpool on July 30. Both matches will be in Singapore.
by Marisa Chimprabha
