Possible penalties the Thai national team may face after setting off flares on the field in their 2-1 victory over Turkmenistan.
On 1 Apr 2026 GMT+7, after the match in which Thailand defeated Turkmenistan 2-1, the team earned 15 points from 6 games and qualified for the 2027 Asian Cup final stage.
However, while thanking fans near zone S, some supporters handed flares to Chanathip Songkrasin to light, as promised if they won this game. They requested that fans not light flares during the game, and after the victory, Chanathip fulfilled this promise.
Reports indicate the Football Association of Thailand could be fined around several hundred thousand baht. However, this depends on the match officials' report, since the flares were lit after the game ended, did not disrupt the match, nor cause damage to the stadium. If classified as such, penalties may be reduced.
Previously, the Asian Football Confederation has fined the Football Association of Thailand multiple times for fans lighting flares. For example, a fine of 20,000 USD (about 672,000 baht) was imposed after fans lit flares in zone S during the 2022 ASEAN Football Championship group stage when Thailand beat the Philippines 4-0 on 26 Dec 2022 GMT+7.
Another 20,000 USD (approximately 672,000 baht) fine was issued during the 2025 AFC Beach Soccer Asian Cup group stage final at Jomtien Beach Arena, Pattaya, Chonburi, where Thailand defeated Kuwait 4-3 on 24 Mar 2025 GMT+7.
Similarly, in the same tournament in 2019 and 2023, the association was fined again for the same offense, totaling 70,000 USD (about 2.3 million baht).