On Sunday night the 27th of October at the Nong Prue Municipality Sports Stadium there was a crunch match in the Toyota Thailand Premier Football League where Pattaya United played host to Chiang Rai United.
What was not welcomed was what resulted at the end of the match when Pattaya United succumbed to a penalty kick in the 67th minute which resulted in a 0-1 defeat for the local team who face almost certain relegation at the end of the season.
At the end of the match about 2,000 disgruntled Pattaya United fans invaded the field and a riot broke with their fury targetted at the referee and the Pattaya United team coach Khun Nitipoom.
The Head Coach Khun Nitipoom who was able to disguise himself as a Police Officers and sneak out of the stadium without being hurt. Beer cans, water bottles were turned into missiles. The referee was rescued by some of the 100 Pattaya police and military police officers on duty.
The riot ended when the crowd dispersed after about an hour. Although serious damage was sustained by the stadium no arrests were made and a further penalty may be kicked in Pattaya United's direction when an inquiry into the fan's behavior is made by the football league authorities.
The whereabouts of the Head coach is as yet unknown and the referee who virtually gave the match to Chiang Rai United by awarding the late penalty is said to be enjoying a well earned all expenses holiday on the banks of the river Mekong in the north of Thailand.
