BANGKOK: Thai football authorities on Tuesday fined two rival clubs and banned their fans from attending matches for the rest of the season following a brawl in which police used tear gas. Several were injured in the clash between fans of bitter foes Muangthong United and Port FC, which erupted outside the stadium after last Wednesday’s night game which saw Muangthong qualify for the league cup final. Apart from tear gas police used a water cannon to break up the fighting, during which rival fans threw rocks, bottles and at least one petrol bomb according to footage shared on social media.
The Football Association of Thailand ruled Tuesday that fans from both teams would be barred
from attending all games for the rest of the season, which ends late next month.
The ban will also extend to matches between the two teams during next year’s season. Both clubs will be fined several thousand dollars for failing to provide security while Muangthong, the home team, will also be barred from using its stadium for the next five matches. The Bangkok teams have a history of trouble. In 2010 Port were fined by the football association after a brawl with Muangthong fans at a cup final game left nine fans injured.
Thai football is desperately trying to burnish its brand and clean up a reputation for violence and dodgy refereeing.