Bangkok, 18 December 2025 – The women’s football final at SEA Games 33 on the night of December 17 left a bitter aftertaste for Vietnamese fans, as the Vietnam women’s national team were “robbed” of a legitimate goal by a refereeing mistake.
One of the two assistant referees made a serious wrong decision. In the 29th minute of the SEA Games 33 final last night, Vietnam were on the verge of a moment that could have completely changed the game against the Philippines. From the right flank, Van Su delivered a highly accurate cross that put Bich Thuy in an ideal position. The Vietnam midfielder surged forward bravely and produced a precise header, sending the ball into the Philippines net.
The stadium erupted. The Vietnam women’s players celebrated wildly, because it was not only a goal, but also a massive advantage in a match deciding the gold medal. However, the joy lasted only a few seconds before assistant referee Chathavong Phutsavan unexpectedly raised the flag for offside. Bich Thuy’s legitimate goal was immediately disallowed.
Slow-motion replays shown on television later revealed a clear truth: Bich Thuy was not offside at all. She started her run from behind, sprinting at high speed to attack the ball, while there was still at least one Philippines defender positioned deeper. It was a relatively “clean” situation, with no blocked view or razor-thin margin that could reasonably explain the error.
The refereeing team’s decision instantly became the center of fierce controversy, especially because it happened in a final, where every moment can determine the fate of an entire tournament. Assistant referee Chathavong Phutsavan committed a KMI (Key Match Incident) error — a serious mistake in a decisive, game-changing situation. This was no longer a routine professional error, but a mistake that directly affected the result and the fairness of the tournament.
It is important to emphasize that SEA Games football operates under the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in terms of technical administration, including the appointment of referee assessors, the referee, and assistant referees. Therefore, the AFC would base its actions on the referee assessor’s report when considering disciplinary measures for serious mistakes like this.
The referee assessor for the final between Vietnam and the Philippines on the night of December 17 was Yongmei Cui. Under standard procedure, the assessor will submit a detailed report analyzing the specific incident in which the assistant referee wrongly raised the flag, forming the basis for the AFC to evaluate the severity of the mistake and the responsibility of the officiating team. Assistant referee Chathavong could face disciplinary action, including being sidelined for multiple matches.
Notably, Chathavong Phutsavan is not an inexperienced official. She has previously been appointed by the AFC for duties at various international tournaments. That is precisely why this error has been even harder for the public to accept, as it occurred in a top-level match where accuracy and composure from referees should be at the highest standard.
Bich Thuy’s legitimate goal was “taken away,” leaving regret, anger, and a sense of injustice for the Vietnam women’s players and supporters. Regardless of the final outcome, this incident will remain a major blemish of SEA Games 33, and it raises serious questions about the quality of refereeing in the region’s biggest matches.
Thanh Tung
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