Asian Cup fails to woo soccer-crazy Thais

(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-07-12 08:38

BANGKOK, July 11 - The Asian Cup is failing to make an impression on soccer-mad Thailand, where fair-weather fans are steering clear of stadiums and watching the tournament on television.

Even Australia's "Socceroos" are struggling to pull the crowds, with daily monsoon rains and traffic snarl-ups leaving Bangkok's Rajamangala stadium half-empty.

"I love football, I want to see the Thai team win, but it's raining so much," said Wandee Chairod, a Bangkok taxi driver.

"We have to buy tickets and it's difficult to get to the stadium. We can watch it on TV instead."

Heavy rain two hours before Saturday's opening game between Thailand and Iraq flooded large parts of Bangkok, causing mayhem on the city's notoriously clogged roads and prompting thousands of supporters to shun the match.

The following day, only 5,000 people turned up to watch Australia's 1-1 draw with Oman, in the Socceroos' first tournament since their impressive 2006 World Cup run in Germany.

The other host countries, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia, have had no trouble filling their stadiums, and have drawn crowds of between 40,000 and 60,000 people.

The Thai team insist, however, that they have the support of the fans.

"I hope they will come out to see us, but we have early kickoffs, bad traffic and terrible weather," Thai coach Charnwit Polcheewin told Reuters.

"Even if they aren't at the stadium, we know there will be 60 million people cheering for us on TV."

Poor crowds are the latest setback for Thailand, which last year nearly lost the right to co-host the tournament after missing deadlines to upgrade its stadiums.

Thais are huge followers of English soccer and millions of dollars are won and lost through rampant illegal betting on Premier League matches.

NATIONAL PRIDE

When national pride is at stake, the South East Asian country has no problems selling tickets.

Tournament finals against regional rivals Vietnam and Singapore this year drew sellout crowds of drum-beating fans carrying flags and wearing royal colours.

But Thailand's lukewarm response to hosting Asia's premier soccer tournament has raised questions about its love of soccer.