Match madness: Football fans ignite flares, burn car at Bangkok uni

An intense football match ended in chaos when fans set off flares, causing a vehicle to catch fire at the Thammasat University, Rangsit Centre. The incident left the car’s owner devastated, as the vehicle was uninsured and essential for daily work.

The fire occurred at 9pm yesterday, June 16, following the conclusion of the Revo Cup final between Muangthong United and BG Pathum United, where BG Pathum emerged victorious with a score of 1-0.

Police and firefighters from the Tha Khlong Municipality Fire Department quickly responded to the fire behind the Main Stadium. They found a white Isuzu four-door pickup truck engulfed in flames. The firefighters extinguished the blaze within ten minutes but the vehicle’s interior was extensively damaged from the fire.

Witnesses reported that a group of five to six individuals ignited flares near the stadium, one of which landed on the pickup truck, causing the fire. An eyewitness, 41 year old Piyapong recounted the event.

“I saw the group set off the first flare, which fell into the football field. Another one landed on the car. They then moved towards the stadium entrance, causing further disturbances with other fans.”

Another eyewitness, a BG Pathum fan, Natee Srisuk shares additional details on the unruly hooligans.

Group of fans

“I saw them setting off flares outside the stadium. Someone recorded it, and when the flare landed and caused the fire, the group chased the person filming. They were all men, around 20 to 30 years old.”

The 47 year old car owner, Arun arrived to find his vehicle in flames. He shared that his car is uninsured and essential for his daily work, distraught, he remains unsure of how to seek compensation for the damages. Arun visited the stadium for his sons’s football match with MJ United from Ayutthaya, unrelated to the teams playing yesterday.

“If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have come. For a big competition like this, it has to be better. How can it be organised to prevent incidents like this? I saw fans fighting and setting off flares, which should not happen.

“I want to urge everyone involved to come and rectify this problem, and I also want to address the Football Association to help manage this issue. I don’t want incidents like this to happen, but now that it has, someone must take responsibility and expedite the resolution because I need this car for my livelihood.”

A rescue team member from the on-site Thitikarn Ambulance Service explained that the fire started on a sheet of canvas before spreading to the car. Investigators documented the scene and instructed officers to review CCTV footage to identify and apprehend the culprits responsible for the incident, reported Khaosod.