The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) has issued a formal apology to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) following a significant error during the group draw for the ASEAN U19 Boys’ Futsal Championship. The incident, which occurred on October 28, saw the Chinese national flag mistakenly used to represent Vietnam on the draw sheets.
Vietnam expressed strong dissatisfaction with the host nation, Thailand, after the incorrect flag was displayed during the group allocation ceremony for the tournament. The error quickly drew criticism, prompting swift action from the organizers. According to Vietnamese newspaper Vnexpress, the video recording of the draw was removed from FAT’s social media platforms approximately ten minutes after the mistake was made public.
The VFF promptly escalated its concerns, sending an urgent letter to both the AFF and the FAT to formally protest the error. The Vietnamese federation highlighted that such a grave mistake could negatively impact Vietnam’s image and potentially undermine unity within the ASEAN community. The VFF requested the AFF to investigate the root cause of the FAT organizing committee’s oversight and implement stringent measures to prevent similar incidents from recurring.
In their letter, the VFF expressed confidence in the AFF’s ability to address the serious issue responsibly, carefully, and professionally. They emphasized the importance of rectifying the situation to uphold the integrity of regional sports events.
Hours after Vietnam’s public statement, Madam Pang, President of the FAT, dispatched an official letter of apology to the Vietnam Football Federation. In her letter, Madam Pang conveyed deep regret over the unfortunate incident. She stressed that the mistake did not reflect any disrespect towards Vietnam or any other member federation. The Thai football chief affirmed that the FAT had taken immediate steps to correct the error and ensure that such an oversight would not happen again.
The ASEAN U19 Boys’ Futsal Championship 2025 will feature seven teams from the Southeast Asian region. Group A consists of hosts Thailand, Vietnam, and Brunei, while Group B includes Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Cambodia. The tournament is scheduled to take take place from November 23 to November 29 in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
