HA NOI — Viet Nam could take over as Group B host for the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup if current events force a change of venue.
The current political crisis in Thailand, which saw Thai protesters besiege Suvarnabhumi Airport on Wednesday night, forced thinking about changes to tournament logistics.
Fifteen flights between Ha Noi and Bangkok were cancelled on Wednesday as a result of the protests.
Malaysia are also being considered as an alternative host if Thailand is unable to hold the matches from December 5-12.
Chairman of the Viet Nam Football Federation, Nguyen Trong Hy, who is in Shanghai for an Asian Football Confederation meeting, said Viet Nam are ready to host the game if AFF appoints them to do so.
Viet Nam hosted the championship in 1998 and one of the groups in 2004.
Last year, Viet Nam successfully organised the final round of the Asian Cup along with Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
However, the Football Association of Thailand confirmed with the Bangkok Post yesterday that the group B competition will remain unchanged.
Football Association of Thailand’s President Worawi Makudi said: “The current political troubles will not prevent Thailand from co-hosting next month’s Suzuki Cup.”
Worawi was responding to reports in the New Straits Times that the tournament would move to Malaysia if the Asean Football Federation (AFF) decided Bangkok was not safe enough to hold the event.
“I would like to confirm that the tournament will go ahead on schedule,” he said. Matches are scheduled to start in Indonesia on December 5 and in Thailand on December 6.
“I told the other three teams in our group that if planes are unable to land at Suvarnabhumi airport, alternatives include Don Mueang and U-Tapao airports.”
He said he was sure security would be fine.
“As the host of the tournament, we cannot cancel or change things 10 days before the tournament begins. We have made a lot of preparations for the tournament and not to follow through would give Thailand a bad reputation,” he said.
The championship will see Viet Nam, Thailand, Malaysia and Laos playing in group B in Bangkok. Singapore, Cambodia, Indonesia and Myanmar will compete in group A in Jakarta. —
