A False Claim Says a Thai Defensive Player Banned from SEA Games
After a controversial final game between Indonesia and Thailand in the 32nd SEA Games hosted in Cambodia, a claim going viral on social media platforms said a Thai defensive footballer Jonathan Khemdee had been banned for life by SEA Games Committee from SEA Games. The claim had been widely shared and commented on, believing it is factual. However, Fact Crescendo Cambodia found the claim above is false.
SOCIAL MEDIAL CLAIM
A claim going viral on social media platforms last week said Thai defensive player Jonathan Khemdee had been banned for life from playing in the SEA Games. The claim added the action was taken by the SEA Games committee.
The claim came a day after brawls happened in the football final game between Indonesia and Thailand in the tournament of the 32nd SEA Games hosted in Cambodia.
The claim had been widely shared and commented on, believing it is a factually reliable piece of news circulated on social media following the controversial final game.
Below is the capture of the claim virally circulated on Facebook on May 18, 2023, saying, “SEA Games Committee ruled out to expel [Thai footballer] from the tournament for life.”
The claim had been circulated on the Facebook platform by other social media users, which got a lot of shares and comments from Khmer-speaking Facebook users.
Below are captures of the claim which had been circulated on Facebook by different social media users since last week.
For the same claim circulated by other Facebook users, visit here (archived) and here (archived).
FACT CHECK
Fact Crescendo Cambodia began checking the claim by reviewing reliable pieces of news and interviewing an official of the 32nd SEA Games Committee. Then, we found the facts below.
Vath Chamroeun – Secretary-General of the Cambodia SEA Games Organizing Committee (CAMSOC) – told Fact Crescendo Cambodia on Monday that the committee has not made any move to punish the Thai footballer after the brawls of the football final game between Indonesia and Thailand.
Asked if the claim above is factual, Mr. Vath Chamroeun called it “fake news”, saying any decision to punish any Thai footballer would be made by Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and that Cambodia had no business with this issue.
Please listen to what Vath Chamroeun told Fact Crescendo Cambodia in an interview on a phone call on May 22, 2023.
In Reuters’s report a day after the final game last week, Keo Sareth – Secretary-General of the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) – said the brawls between Indonesia and Thailand on the pitch of the final game would be penalized by AFC after the match officials made a report to them. Please read the full story here (archived).
Fact Crescendo Cambodia sent out an inquiry by email to the Football Association of Thailand (FA Thailand) last week for clarification; no response has yet gotten. This will be updated later once FA Thailand replies to us.
As no specific penalty has been ruled out by AFC, FA Thailand stated their regret and apology for the incident, saying they would thoroughly investigate any individual and player involved with the brawls.
A Thai broadcasting media reported defensive player Jonathan Khemdee decided to retire from Thailand national team and turned the main focus on his job at the football club level.
CONCLUSION
Fact Crescendo Cambodia found the claim mentioned earlier is false. An Official of CAMSOC clarified the organizing body has not ruled out any action to punish Thai defensive footballer Jonathan Khemdee. Also, no specific penalty has been ruled out by the Asian Football Confederation against the Thai footballer.
Title:A False Claim Says a Thai Defensive Player Banned from SEA Games
Written By: Jay UdomResult: False
