In a surprising act of bad sportsmanship, a football player received a red card for pinching his opponent’s private area during a game. Footage of the incident quickly went viral on social media, sparking outrage among fans.
The incident took place during a big match in the AFC Champions League between two teams from Southeast Asia: Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim and Thailand’s Buriram United. The trouble started when Theerathon Bunmathan from Buriram United fell to the ground after getting fouled by Johor Darul Ta’zim’s Arif Aiman.
While Aiman tried to help Bunmathan up, things took a bizarre turn. After getting back on his feet, Bunmathan suddenly pinched Aiman’s genitals, causing Aiman to drop to the ground in pain. He rolled around on the grass, holding himself in distress.
The referee missed the incident but later used the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) to check what happened. After seeing the replay, he gave Bunmathan a red card.
People on social media reacted strongly, with some questioning whether this act was sexual harassment. Others joked, saying he was playing the wrong kind of game. Comments included harsh words about his character, saying he shouldn’t be a captain or a professional player.
Despite the drama, the actual match ended in a 0-0 draw, with both teams hoping to advance to the Round of 16 in the tournament.