Thai football supporters issued a firm declaration on Monday: they will support their national team at the upcoming Southeast Asian Games — but not from inside the stadiums. The boycott, they said, is a direct response to new ticketing measures requiring spectators to register with personal identification before entering venues.
In a statement posted on social media, the Ultras Thailand supporters’ group explained that the ID-registration rule was only one part of their frustration. They also objected to seating arrangements that place national-team fans away from the traditional behind-the-goal section — a spot where vocal supporters typically rally and generate pressure on the opposing goalkeeper.
Although the group pledged to follow the team to every match during this month’s SEA Games, which Thailand is hosting, they said they would not pass through stadium gates unless the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) addressed their grievances.
“Forcing fans to submit personal data just to attend a football match violates the fundamental freedoms of spectators,” the group wrote, describing the rule as a troubling overreach.
Ultras Thailand also raised fears that the ID-registration database could expose supporters to cybersecurity risks, arguing that the requirement “is not about safety — it is an injustice.”
The group further criticised the stadium zoning plan, claiming it disadvantages the home crowd.
“The away section has been placed behind the goal, giving visiting teams an edge and weakening the pressure normally created by Thai supporters,” the statement read.
They stressed that their stance was not directed at the national team, but at event organisers.
“We stand with the Thailand national team — always. But we refuse to accept the Sports Authority’s management of this tournament.”
Attempts by AFP to contact the SAT or the national football association for comment on Monday evening were unsuccessful.
Thailand is staging the Southeast Asian Games from December 9–20, with the men’s football competition set to begin Wednesday when the hosts face East Timor at the Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok.
Organizers recently announced venue changes for 11 sports, including men’s football, due to widespread flooding in southern Thailand that has claimed over 170 lives. Meanwhile, neighboring Cambodia has withdrawn from eight events, citing safety concerns as tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border continue to simmer.