SHOCK: Vietnam's national anthem 'forgotten' by Thailand due to end of office hours

05/12/2025 16:19:00 PANDATV

The national anthem issue at the U22 Vietnam vs U22 Laos match in SEA Games 2025 caused debate due to an extremely hard-to-believe cause.

The preparations for SEA Games 2025 hosted by Thailand have become a hot topic after the sound system at Rajamangala Stadium suddenly failed to play the national anthem during the U22 Vietnam versus U22 Laos match. This situation forced players from both teams to sing on their own, creating an unbelievable scene right at the opening match of the men's football event.

The problem became even more controversial when Thai media reported that the incident stemmed from an… administrative reason. According to Matichon (Thailand), the staff member from the Sports Authority of Thailand (SAT) responsible for operating the stadium’s sound system, had finished work exactly at the scheduled time. Without any request for overtime or extra support, this person turned off the equipment and left the stadium as if it were a normal working day.

The U22 Vietnam players had to sing the national anthem a cappella before the match against U22 Laos. (Photo: Matichon)

When the SEA Games specialist team arrived to take over, they were completely unprepared. No one was familiar with the sound control system, causing the staff to struggle with numerous unfamiliar devices. The inability to start the system on time resulted in neither team’s anthem being played, creating a chaotic moment that directly impacted the pre-match ceremony.

As soon as the issue was reported, SAT leadership immediately issued an urgent order to summon the responsible staff back to Rajamangala Stadium. This person returned just in time to restore the entire sound system before the match between U22 Thailand and U22 Timor Leste. Thanks to that, the ceremony for the second match proceeded normally, without the a cappella singing seen in the opening game.

The Thai organizing committee has repeatedly had to explain the incidents at the SEA Games. (Photo: SAT)

This rare incident is causing heavy criticism towards the SEA Games organizers, especially as Thailand faces pressure to demonstrate its hosting capabilities. The awkward situation during an important opening match has raised concerns about the host country's readiness. Regarding whether the staff member will receive overtime pay, Thai media have not provided further information.

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