Some fans cancel trip for second leg in Bangkok

The Straits Times, February 2, 2007


TO GO or not to go?

Singapore fans are split over travelling to Bangkok for the Lions' Asean Football Championship second-leg, final clash with Thailand on Sunday. Their concern comes after Wednesday's controversial first leg at the National Stadium.

Singapore pipped Thailand 2-1, but not before a hotly-disputed penalty led to a 15-minute walkout by the furious visitors.

There have also been protests against Singapore outside its Bangkok embassy recently. The protests were over former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra's meeting last month with Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar in Singapore.

The fans are concerned that some groups may seize the opportunity presented by the football match at the Supachalasai Stadium to make a political statement.

Alice Fong, 59, is among those who have cancelled their tickets. She had booked tickets for herself and her daughter's family of five to watch the game. But, after Wednesday's match, the housewife called off the trip. 'My daughter felt it would not be safe for the children,' said Fong.

She is not alone in being apprehensive. William Lee, 73, who runs a transport company and organises trips for fans, yesterday received many calls from customers who wanted to put their bookings on hold. He said: 'They want to see the situation first before confirming their tickets.
'Some men already had their leave approved, but were stopped by their wives from going.'

Lee is offering 30 slots of a $460 package, but only 12 have been confirmed and paid up.
'This is easily one of the worst cases of cancellations,' he added.

Still, some hard-core supporters remain unperturbed. Suzanna Foo, 33, a coordinator for the Lions' Die-hard Supporters' Group, has been following the Singapore team since the Malaysia Cup days of more than a decade ago. 'We're always prepared for safety issues when we travel to other countries for matches,' said the administrative executive with S-League club Singapore Armed Forces FC. 'The main thing is to stick together and move around as a group.'

However, it is business as usual for travel agent Akbar Hashim, 46. He has been organising soccer trips since 1993. He, too, received numerous calls, but there were no cancellations.
Two-thirds of the 30 slots for his $450 package have been snapped up. But Akbar, who will also be making the trip, has decided to take extra precautions - like leaving his regular Lions' costume behind. 'The group is quite small, so we have to think of the fans' safety first,' he said.

He cautioned fans about using vulgar words or signs during the match as they might provoke a reaction from the Thai supporters.

The Football Association of Singapore has advised fans not to wear the Singapore supporters' T-shirt at the match.

'If we don't wear it, then there is no meaning at all,' said Foo. 'We'll wear the shirt during the match, but take them off when we leave the stadium.'

A Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said there would be no travel advisory for now.



By Jeanette Wang