PHUKET: Hundreds of irate fans of FC Phuket blockaded the team's home ground in Phuket City tonight after the troubled club lost 1-0 to a less-fancied rival.

Police at Surakul Stadium to escort the referees and the football club's committee away from the ground struggled to get through a crowd that blocked exits in a hugely unsafe demonstration of their lack of sportsmanship.

Bottles and virtually anything that the fans could grab were thrown onto the field. The referee was forced to apologise over a microphone before he could leave the pitch, under escort.

Phuket ''Hulk'' fans demonstrating at the Phuket City ground said the referees favored the opposition team and demanded the apology to Phuket fans.

With rumors flying, the future of the once-promising Phuket club now seems more insecure than ever following tonight's rebellion by fans.

It comes as FC Phuket's first season in Division One draws to a close with high hopes of success dashed and questions now being asked about the finances of the club.

On the pitch tonight, FC Phuket lost to lowly-ranked Suphanburi FC while off the pitch, the Phuket fans, who have vented their anger unimpressively in the past this season, brought the club to a new low.

Absent from tonight's fixture - and probably wisely - was coach Sompong Wittana, who was installed when the FC Phuket fans rebelled earlier in the season and demanded the on-field resignation of his predecessor.

Late payment of players recently has not helped to keep Phuket in contention and with the funding by the Phuket Provincial Administrative Organisation thrown into question, FC Phuket's season is over with matches still to be played.

The administrative organisation has generously supported the club with 1.3 million baht a month for players' and staff salaries and 130,000 baht in training allowances since 2010.

But the legitimacy of support for private businesses such as FC Phuket around the country has been called into question by the Auditor-General's office.

Administration chief executive Paiboon Upatising stood aside as chairman of FC Phuket in the wake of the findings.

Tonight's blockade plunged FC Phuket further into crisis.

Legitimate fans - especially women and families - are unlikely to support the club while extremists resort to this kind of unacceptable behavior.

FC Phuket is bound to be fined and will be lucky to escape suspension. Win or lose, football is a game.

It's time FC Phuket's most ardent fans understood that there are more important matters in life.

FC Phuket's next match is at home in Phuket City on December 25 (Sunday) against Air Force United from 6pm.