Ax murder ends World Cup dispute

NAKHON SRI THAMMARAT: A man hacked his boss to death with an ax following an argument over play in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, now into the knockout stages in South Africa.

In the early hours of June 22, friends of Suwit Thongkhaha rushed the 42-year-old to hospital, but he was dead on arrival, the Thai-language newspaper Khao Sod (‘Fresh News’) reported.

At the scene of the crime, in Thung Song District, police found a large pool of blood and evidence that a heavy drinking session had taken place.

Employees of the late Mr Suwit, a construction contractor, told police that five or six of them were drinking with their boss in his house when the incident happened.

Mr Suwit, a big fan of Brazil, insisted that no other team could possibly match their exploits on the pitch. England fan Sithi Thongkhan, 55, took a different view, however.

He argued that while the South American powerhouse may have seemed invincible in the past, recent developments in world football showed that many countries now have a shot at winning.

Mr Suwit stuck to his guns, insisting most fervently that no other team could rival Brazil. His obstinance so enraged Mr Sithi that the latter stormed out of the room. Shortly thereafter, Mr Sithi returned with an ax and struck Mr Suwit twice in the back of the head, splitting open his skull.

Mr Sithi then fled, ax in hand. At last report police were still searching for him.

This is not the first time the World Cup has provoked lethal violence in Thailand. During the 2006 World Cup, two men drinking in a bar in Pattaya were shot dead by a fellow drinker after cheering too loudly while watching Italy defeat Ghana 2-0.