Fans across SE Asia slam officiating after Vietnam’s SEA Games women’s football final loss to Philippines

The finale ended 0-0 after extra time before the Philippines won the shootout to claim the gold medal, denying Vietnam a fifth consecutive SEA Games title.

The controversy centered on a first-half goal by Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy that was ruled out for offside, a call that drew widespread criticism on regional football forums and social media platforms.

Posts on ASEAN Football, a popular regional football discussion group, questioned the standard of officiating at the tournament and noted the absence of video assistant referee (VAR) technology at the SEA Games.

Many commentators said the offside decision appeared incorrect based on television replays.

The assistant referee involved, Chanthavong Phutsavan of Laos, was criticized online by fans from several countries, including some Laotian users.

Maysaa, a Laotian social media personality, posted comments during the match criticizing the decision and later expressed sympathy for Vietnam’s team, according to posts on her verified account.

The incident fueled renewed calls from fans for the introduction of VAR at the SEA Games, at least from the semifinal stage onward.

Within 30 minutes of the final whistle, a post discussing the decision on ASEAN Football had drawn thousands of comments, many criticizing the officiating and tournament organization.