Thailand’s Football Association (FAT) has issued an apology after mistakenly showing China’s flag instead of Vietnam’s during the AFF U19 Futsal Championship 2025 group draw, held on October 28 in Bangkok.
The mistake appeared in a 10-minute livestream organized by FAT and was later deleted from all social media platforms.
The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has filed an urgent letter of protest to both the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) and FAT, demanding clarification and preventive measures.
“VFF strongly objects to and requests a full explanation of the incorrect display of Vietnam’s national flag during the official draw ceremony,” the federation said in a statement.
“This serious incident could harm Vietnam’s image and negatively affect the unity of the ASEAN community.”
Later the same day, both AFF and FAT issued formal apologies to Vietnam. FAT President Nualphan Lamsam (Madam Pang) acknowledged the mistake and took full responsibility:
“This error does not reflect the respect and appreciation FAT holds for all member associations and their national symbols. We reaffirm our strong commitment to professionalism and respect in all AFF-hosted events,” she said.
The AFF U19 Futsal Championship 2025 will take place from December 23 to 29 in Nonthaburi, Thailand. Vietnam is placed in Group A alongside Thailand and Brunei, while Group B includes Indonesia, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Cambodia. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals.
AFF will also host the U16 Futsal Championship, featuring Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Brunei. Both tournaments mark the first-ever youth futsal competitions organized by AFF, following the suspension of the AFC U20 Futsal Championship since 2020 due to the pandemic.
Vietnam’s U16 and U19 futsal teams are expected to begin training on November 16 in Ho Chi Minh City.
This is not the first time a flag mix-up has sparked controversy at major Southeast Asian events.
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At the SEA Games 32 opening ceremony in Cambodia (2024), Indonesian fans protested when performers held the national flag upside down, making it appear as Poland’s.
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A similar mistake occurred at the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia, when Indonesia’s flag was printed upside down in an official booklet.
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Even at the Paris 2024 Olympics, organizers mistakenly played the wrong national anthem for South Sudan and showed the wrong flag for Argentina.
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Source: Vietnam Insider