In 2003, Ong Bak introduced Muay Thai to a Western audience like never before as Tony Jaa used elbows, knees and shins to attack his enemies with crushing blows in one of my personal favorite martial arts films of all time. In 2022, I was shocked to see Muay Thai being practiced on a soccer pitch in Thailand, a player throwing an elbow so incredibly violent he was immediately kicked off the club and later charged with assault.
Aitsaret Noichaiboon was playing for Bangkok FC against North Bangkok University in the Championship round of Thai League 3 on Sunday when Supasan Ruangsuphanimit unnecessarily clipped his foot as the ball was going out of bounds in added time of a 3-0 match. It was the type of play that deserved a yellow card, not a brutal elbow.
Instead of going to retrieve the ball for a throw-in, Noichaiboon walked up to Ruangsuphanimit and smashed his face in with a lightning-fast strike.
Ouch. Also, what the fuck. Also, I can’t believe we got so many great replay angles from the third division in Thailand.
To no one’s surprise, Noichaiboon was shown a straight red. Soon after, he was kicked off Bangkok FC.
“Bangkok FC would like to (take a) stand and not support the action,” the club wrote on its Facebook page. “The club has canceled the contract of the player. The club would like to express our condolences for the incident and will do everything possible to stop this happening again.”
Ruangsuphanimit required 24 stitches to his face. Maybe he should have been more aware of Noichaiboon angrily charging at him, but no one on the pitch should have to defend themselves from physical assault. The referee should’ve run in to show yellow to Ruangsuphanimit before the situation escalated.
After the match, Ruangsuphanimit went to the police to file a complaint and Noichaiboon has now been charged with assault.
North Bangkok won the match 3-0.
