Coach Park Hang-seo is currently working in Thailand. Photo: Kanchanaburi
Park issued an apology on Friday through Kanchanaburi Power FC over comments he made following the club’s 1-1 draw with Nakhon Pathom United in Thai League 2 on September 16.
“I sincerely apologize to all Thai football fans for any discomfort caused by my comments in the interview after the recent match,” Park said.
The South Korean coach explained that his original intention was only to raise the issue of improving refereeing standards and creating a fairer competitive environment, which he said would contribute to the development of Thai football.
Park stressed that he had “no intention of belittling the Thai national team, Thai football, or Thai players, nor did I intend to create controversy by comparing Thai football with another country.”
He acknowledged that his choice of words when comparing Thailand with Vietnam may have made Thai fans feel uncomfortable or disappointed.
The former head coach of the Vietnamese national team also emphasized that he has always respected Thai football and hopes it will continue to develop and achieve success on the international stage.
As head coach of Kanchanaburi Power, Park said he would continue carrying out his duties responsibly and with respect for Thai football.
The apology came after his remarks triggered a strong reaction in Thailand.
During the Nakhon Pathom-Kanchanaburi match on Wednesday, Park’s side were reduced to 10 men after Jean Hebert received two yellow cards.
Kanchanaburi later conceded an equalizer in a 1-1 draw from a play that Park believed involved an offside infringement. Thai League 2 does not use VAR for most of the season, so the referee’s decision was not reviewed with the technology.
After the match, Park strongly criticized the refereeing and said he had “understood why Thailand keeps losing to Vietnam,” adding that such officiating could affect the development of Thai football.
The remarks immediately sparked widespread controversy on Thai football forums and pages such as Ball Thai Stand, Think Curve, and Jay Worapath. Many Thai fans reacted angrily, accusing Park of being “disrespectful to Thai football.”
The criticism was not limited to fans, as Thai football officials and club executives also expressed displeasure with Park Hang-seo’s remarks. Thanawat Nitikarnjana, president of Ratchaburi FC, was among the most outspoken, publicly accusing Park of criticizing Thai football because he had “failed to control his emotions.”
Thanawat argued that a foreign coach should not belittle Thai football because of his personal frustration, and cited the results of Thai clubs against Vietnamese teams in regional competitions to counter Park’s remarks.
In his apology, Park did not withdraw his view that refereeing standards needed to be improved. Instead, he primarily apologized for the way he compared Thai football with Vietnam and for the feelings his remarks had caused among fans in the host country.
Park Hang-seo is one of the most successful coaches in Vietnamese football history. The South Korean took charge of Vietnam in 2017 and spent more than five years leading the country’s senior and U23 teams.
Under Park, Vietnam finished runners-up at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship and reached the semifinals of the 2018 Asian Games.
The senior national team won the 2018 AFF Cup, ending a 10-year wait for the regional title, before advancing to the quarterfinals of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.
He also guided Vietnam to their maiden appearance in the final round of Asian qualifying for the FIFA World Cup during the 2022 campaign.
After leaving the Vietnam national team, Park opened a football academy, served as an advisor to Bac Ninh FC, and became vice president of the Korea Football Association.
Coach Park Hang-seo has been in charge of Kanchanaburi Power FC in Thai League 2 since May 2026.
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