PHUKET: Irate Phuket FC fans staged a blockade at Surakul Stadium in Phuket City tonight as the home team surrendered a 2-0 lead to end at a 2-2 draw in the final minutes.
The fans blocked exits to prevent players and officials from leaving the pitch.
The angry group were calling for the sacking of the Phuket FC coach and the goalkeeper.
Phuket FC's promising start to the First Division season has fallen in a heap with a lack of wins in the past four matches.
Tonight's game for Phuket - in sixth position - was expected to produce a season revival with a win over 17th-placed Rayong FC.
At the 70-minute mark, Phuket led 2-0. But in extra time, Rayong scored the two goals it needed to end with a draw.
Phuket's season began well but the past four matches have produced no wins.
Coach Paniphol Kerdyaem faced strong criticism over team selections in last weekend's game against lowly played Ayuttha FC, but that match finished in a draw.
Phuket FC has a history of fan protests and bottle-throwing onto the pitch that does not encourage families to attend games and may well see the club suffer a severe penalty over tonight's outrageous behavior.
Sadly, the tremendous support offered by Phuket resort owner Pamuke Acariyachai, Chairman of Phuket FC, is not appreciated by a core of fans who seem to not understand that football is about how you play the game, not winning at all costs.
Khun Pamuke was among the officials trapped on the pitch by tonight's protest. He told the angry fans that he had no intention of sacking the coach.
A couple of seasons ago, the fans staged a similar protest that forced the Phuket coach at the time to resign on the pitch, a humiliating experience.
No football club needs fans running it.
Protests and advice should be made to club officials in the sensible Monday to Friday environment, not in the heat of an unexpected draw.
If Phuket FC had lost the game, what would the fans have done? Bottles have been banned because the Phuket hot-heads have previously hurled objects onto the pitch.
The latest outrage is expected to draw a severe sanction that will probably end Phuket's hopes of promotion to Premier League this season - and perhaps lead to closer scrutiny and fewer families at future matches.
Phuket FC is scheduled to play Trat FC away in Round 12 on March 25.
The route up from Division One became a whole lot tougher tonight - not because of the coach or the goalkeeper, but because of the fans.
Round 10 Ayutthaya FC 1-1 Phuket FC
Round Nine Phuket FC 1-1 Singh Tarua FC
Round Eight Airforce 2-1 Phuket FC
Round Seven Phuket FC 1-0 Khon Khaen FC
Round Six Nakhom Pathom 0-0 Phuket FC
Round Five Phuket FC 1-0 Ratcha Navy FC
Round Four TTM Lopburi FC 0-1 Phuket FC
Round Three Phuket FC 3-1 Sriracha Suzuki FC
Round Two Phuket FC 2-2 Bangkok FC
Round One BB-CU FC 1-1 Phuket FC
The fans blocked exits to prevent players and officials from leaving the pitch.
The angry group were calling for the sacking of the Phuket FC coach and the goalkeeper.
Phuket FC's promising start to the First Division season has fallen in a heap with a lack of wins in the past four matches.
Tonight's game for Phuket - in sixth position - was expected to produce a season revival with a win over 17th-placed Rayong FC.
At the 70-minute mark, Phuket led 2-0. But in extra time, Rayong scored the two goals it needed to end with a draw.
Phuket's season began well but the past four matches have produced no wins.
Coach Paniphol Kerdyaem faced strong criticism over team selections in last weekend's game against lowly played Ayuttha FC, but that match finished in a draw.
Phuket FC has a history of fan protests and bottle-throwing onto the pitch that does not encourage families to attend games and may well see the club suffer a severe penalty over tonight's outrageous behavior.
Sadly, the tremendous support offered by Phuket resort owner Pamuke Acariyachai, Chairman of Phuket FC, is not appreciated by a core of fans who seem to not understand that football is about how you play the game, not winning at all costs.
Khun Pamuke was among the officials trapped on the pitch by tonight's protest. He told the angry fans that he had no intention of sacking the coach.
A couple of seasons ago, the fans staged a similar protest that forced the Phuket coach at the time to resign on the pitch, a humiliating experience.
No football club needs fans running it.
Protests and advice should be made to club officials in the sensible Monday to Friday environment, not in the heat of an unexpected draw.
If Phuket FC had lost the game, what would the fans have done? Bottles have been banned because the Phuket hot-heads have previously hurled objects onto the pitch.
The latest outrage is expected to draw a severe sanction that will probably end Phuket's hopes of promotion to Premier League this season - and perhaps lead to closer scrutiny and fewer families at future matches.
Phuket FC is scheduled to play Trat FC away in Round 12 on March 25.
The route up from Division One became a whole lot tougher tonight - not because of the coach or the goalkeeper, but because of the fans.
Phuket FC's Route to the Top: The Story So Far
Round 10 Ayutthaya FC 1-1 Phuket FC
Round Nine Phuket FC 1-1 Singh Tarua FC
Round Eight Airforce 2-1 Phuket FC
Round Seven Phuket FC 1-0 Khon Khaen FC
Round Six Nakhom Pathom 0-0 Phuket FC
Round Five Phuket FC 1-0 Ratcha Navy FC
Round Four TTM Lopburi FC 0-1 Phuket FC
Round Three Phuket FC 3-1 Sriracha Suzuki FC
Round Two Phuket FC 2-2 Bangkok FC
Round One BB-CU FC 1-1 Phuket FC
Best to break up the team and leave the season for 2 years and see what happens then.
Safer for everyone, I suspect.
Posted by Tbs on May 18, 2013 21:12