A tense moment unfolded when a Khon Kaen United player was struck by an opponent’s elbow and fell backward, lying motionless on the field. Medical staff rushed to perform CPR and rushed him to the hospital. Fans shouted in disbelief as the referee delayed stopping the game.
On 26 Oct 2026, a widely shared video emerged online showing the BYD Wheel Five League 2 matchday 8 between hosts Khon Kaen United and Mueang Loei United at the Khon Kaen Provincial Sports Stadium. During the match, Khon Kaen United captain "Captain Max" Wasusivit Phusirit was injured after an opponent elbowed him, causing him to lose consciousness on the field.
However, the match continued as the referee neither blew the whistle nor signaled a temporary pause. This led to fans shouting warnings of an injured player until Khon Kaen’s medical team rushed in to provide immediate first aid and perform CPR before transferring the player to hospital. After the video circulated, many people commented and criticized the situation.
Later, the Facebook pageKHON KAEN UNITEDposted an update on "Captain Max" stating that after the collision, he was taken to Ratchaphruek Hospital, where doctors conducted a detailed CT scan of his brain and X-rays of his bones. The results showed his brain was normal, and no fractures were found in his jaw, neck, or chest bones. He is now safe, conscious, and able to communicate normally. Doctors have advised rest and ongoing monitoring at the hospital.
A reporter spoke with a fan who attended the match. The fan described that in the second half, as the game intensified, a Mueang Loei player elbowed "Captain Max" near his chin, causing him to fall. However, the referee allowed play to continue without calling a foul. Khon Kaen players tried to retrieve the ball to stop the game, but over a minute passed.
When the game finally stopped, the referee issued a yellow card to the Mueang Loei player, unrelated to the initial injury incident. The injured captain held the injured area and became still, but the referee did not check on him. Khon Kaen’s medical staff immediately ran onto the field without waiting for the referee’s permission because the player was motionless, to assess the injury and provide CPR.
Fans had been shouting for the referee to stop the game for quite some time, because while the injured player was down, the opposing team continued attacking and Khon Kaen tried to regain the ball for about a minute. When play finally stopped and the referee checked on the injured player, fans—especially Khon Kaen supporters—were displeased, viewing the incident as an accident.
From a player’s perspective, the fan felt there should be mutual respect and the game should have been stopped immediately with a kick out of play to check on the injured player, who was holding his head. The referee should have stopped the game right away instead of letting it continue for over a minute. This showed a lapse in match control. He urged fans to remain calm, recognizing the incident was an accident no one intended. He also called on referees to be more attentive during matches.