As we all know, a heated clash between Chinese Super League powerhouse Zhejiang and Thai Super League powerhouse Buriram United broke out during the AFC Champions League group stage, and the incident instantly came into the spotlight, triggering widespread attention from soccer fans around the globe. Even though the clash has subsided for the time being, the clubs and players of both sides have continued to engage in heated debates on social media, each with their own version of the story. In any case, neither side has shown the slightest compromise with the other. The general opinion is that it was the mistakes of each other that led to the farce on the field.
From a fan's point of view, we expect fairness and justice to be maintained in the tournament and strongly condemn any form of on-field violence. According to the information available to us, the cause of the clash on the pitch after the match probably stemmed from the provocative behavior of the Thai team, which even included some insulting remarks.
In the face of this incident, the Chinese Football Association (CFA) quickly made an official response, not only condemned the violence on the field of play, but also made it clear that it will fully cooperate with the AFC to carry out investigations. In fact, the notice of the CFA released two layers of signals. On the one hand, on behalf of the Zhejiang team and the Chinese Super League to apologize to the AFC; on the other hand, actively looking for the source of the conflict.
Standing up for Zhejiang, they pointed out that the Thai players made insulting remarks about Chinese players and some players made provocative gestures. These highly provocative words and actions are undoubtedly unacceptable, especially after the Thai national soccer team's come-from-behind victory over them away from home, an AFC Champions League win that may have fueled their anxiety.
It is foreseeable that both teams will face punishment from the AFC, especially those players and staff involved in the clash, with fines and suspensions feared to be unavoidable. More importantly, Zhejiang's qualification for next season's AFC Champions League has also become one of the key factors in the AFC's swift stance.
Here, I expect the Football Association to strengthen its communication with the AFC. While condemning the violence on the field of play, it should conduct an in-depth investigation into the whole incident, restore the truth and deal seriously with the persons involved. The most crucial thing is to ensure that the Chinese Super League's qualification for the AFC Champions League will not be affected, so as to prevent the Thai team from succeeding in their plot.
