Thai football fans threaten to boycott SEA Games stadiums over ID registration rules and seating arrangements, vowing to travel but not enter venues.
THAI football fans have threatened to boycott cheering from the stadium stands at upcoming Southeast Asian Games matches over ticket rules requiring ID registration.
The Ultras Thailand supporters group also took issue with national team fans not being seated behind a goal, according to a statement posted on social media.
The group vowed to travel to every match during the SEA Games hosted by Thailand this month but said they would not enter a stadium until their complaints were addressed.
“Forcing people to register their personal information before entering a stadium is a violation of the basic freedoms of sports spectators,” the Ultras Thailand said.
They called the ID requirement a risk and an injustice, rather than a safety measure.
The group also rejected the management of stadium cheering zones, saying the arrangement gives an advantage to visiting teams.
“We stand side by side with the national team, but we will not surrender to the Sport Authority of Thailand’s management of this football event,” the statement said.
The Sports Authority of Thailand and the national football association could not immediately be reached for comment.
Thailand is hosting the regional sports extravaganza from December 9-20.
A preliminary football match between Thailand and East Timor is scheduled for Wednesday in Bangkok.
Organisers changed venues for 11 sports, including men’s football, last week due to severe flooding in Thailand’s south.
The flooding has killed more than 170 people.
Neighbour Cambodia also announced its withdrawal from eight sports, citing safety concerns amid a simmering border row with Thailand.
