PHUKET: A public relations officer for FC Phuket has been threatened with a gun and beaten up because of a bottle-throwing incident at a Phuket City football game.

One of FC Phuket's patrons, Deputy Commander of Region 8 headquarters Major General Pisan Junladiluk, has ordered Phuket City police to catch the gang of men involved.

PR man Chachris Homnang appeared at last night's FC Phuket match in Phuket City with his head bandaged and his face bruised.

FC Phuket beat Bangkok United 1-0 in a rare victory but Khun Chachris told Phuket City police earlier in the day that he came off second-best in a bizarre encounter with four men at a restaurant that was operating late into the morning.

According to Khun Chachris's account, he was at Canara restaurant in the Phuket City entertainment district of Poonpol about 2am, handing out brochures promoting the match, when he encountered the table of four men.

One of the men took exception, telling Khun Chachris that his son had been at an FC Phuket match earlier in the season when fans hurled missiles at the referee and officials, and his son had been struck by a bottle.

Khun Chachris told the men he wasn't part of the FC Phuket management so he could not respond about that incident, but the men were not happy with what they heard.

One man pulled a handgun, pointed it at Khun Chachris's head, and told him to come with them, Phuket City police were told.

The four took Khun Chachris in a car to Kao Taosea, a Phuket City hill not far from Phuket Provincial Hall, where the television transmitters are located.

There, he later told police, the four men beat him about the head and face. When he was told he was free to go, Khun Chachris went to Vachira Hospital in Phuket City for treatment, then to Phuket City police station nearby.

Twice this season, FC Phuket fans have thrown missiles in disputes over refereeing decisions, and on a third occasion chanting fans brought an on-pitch resignation from a coach.

The beating is likely to bring a call from senior officials at FC Phuket to improve their behavior at games.

Attendances by families at FC Phuket will fall away if lairs among the fans continue to misbehave.

Phuket City Police Superintendent Colonel Chote Chitchai said police were looking at security camera footage in an effort to identify the gunman and his pals.