In the fourth minute of stoppage time in the second half, with Iraq leading the hosts 1-0, Mohanad Ali charged from behind and kicked Chanathip's knee. The 25-year-old striker made no attempt to play the ball, clearly intending to injure the Thai captain despite his team's lead. The referee immediately issued a red card, sending Ali off. Players from both teams then clashed on the field.
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Iraqi players (right) check on Chanathip (left) during the Kings Cup awards ceremony at Kanchanaburi Stadium, Thailand on the evening of 7/9/2025. Photo: DailyNews |
Iraqi players (right) check on Chanathip (left) during the Kings Cup awards ceremony at Kanchanaburi Stadium, Thailand on the evening of 7/9/2025. Photo: DailyNews
Chanathip had to be stretchered off the field but was later able to walk to the awards ceremony. When asked about the incident, the 31-year-old midfielder said, "I've never been physically assaulted like that while playing football. I regret what happened. Fortunately, it's a muscle injury, not a ligament. However, I still need a thorough examination."
Ali's violent foul is rarely seen in professional matches, more commonly occurring in amateur leagues. Although the Kings Cup is a friendly tournament, it has a 51-year history and counts toward FIFA rankings. Ali himself has suffered two anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, and this time, he nearly inflicted a similar injury on his opponent. When Thai players confronted him, the striker seemed ready to escalate the fight before teammates intervened.
When asked if he had anything to say to Ali, Chanathip replied that he was angry but believed his opponent probably regretted the foul. "This kind of incident shouldn't happen in a football match. He had the advantage but resorted to violence. I'm confused and saddened by what occurred," Chanathip stated.
Ironically, it was Ali who scored the only goal of the match with a header in the 75th minute. The striker, born in 2000, has scored 27 goals in 60 appearances for Iraq. He also scored twice against Vietnam, once in the 2019 Asian Cup group stage and again in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Despite his injury, Chanathip apologized to Thai fans for failing to defend the Kings Cup title. In this match, the midfielder, born in 1993, came on at the start of the second half, creating two chances that his teammates couldn't convert. "On behalf of the younger players, I apologize to the fans," he said. "We need your support now more than ever."
Unlike Chanathip, many Thai fans were unforgiving of Ali's actions. After the match, they flooded the player's Instagram account with critical comments. "If you want to kick opponents like that, become a martial artist, not a footballer," user ilhamsryaprtma05 wrote under one of Ali's posts.
An Iraqi account, v.o4a, responded: "To our Thai brothers and sisters, with love and sincere apologies. Ali's action does not represent all of us. It was inappropriate and completely unethical."
Hoang An (Daily News)
