Madam Pang has been criticized for her silence following Thailand's defeat at the SEA Games.

Following Thailand's football team coming up empty at SEA Games 33, Madam Pang encountered a wave of harsh criticism due to her silence, causing fans to feel let down and doubt her leadership skills.

After a disappointing SEA Games 33 held on home soil, where Thailand's football teams failed to secure any medals in all four categories including men's football, women's football, men's futsal, and women's futsal, the President of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT), Madam Pang, chose to remain silent amid fierce criticism from supporters.

“Silence to calm the waves” might be a common tactic in politics or business, but in sports, especially for Thai football at this moment, such silence only fuels public unrest.

Before the SEA Games, although everyone understood that winning all four gold medals was a tough goal, as the host nation, expectations were high. When the result was a complete zero, strong backlash was inevitable. Fans were not only disappointed by the losses but also frustrated by the absence of accountability from the top leader.

While leaders of other sports like volleyball or sepaktakraw were willing to take responsibility and face public scrutiny, Madam Pang chose silence, only posting positive images and quotes on social media, which many saw as avoiding reality.

Experts believe Thai football is facing a crisis of confidence. The U17 team’s failure to qualify for the World Cup, the women's team’s early exit in qualifiers, and the controversy surrounding the dismissal of coach Masatada Ishii have seriously damaged FAT’s reputation.

Nonetheless, Madam Pang's contributions over recent times cannot be deniedfrom securing sponsors and ensuring financial resources for the Thai League to improving communication efforts. However, as the head of the organization, she needs to speak out, share, and engage with fans instead of choosing silence and ignoring the rising public outcry.

In sports, winning and losing is normal. But after every defeat, fans expect not only an apology but honesty and a commitment to change. Sometimes, silence is no longer golden but the first crack in the trust of an entire football community.