Playing dirty with Chanathip, Iraqi player did not dare to receive medal

Coach Arnold had to ask Ali for a separate gold medal.

The ball was near the middle of the field, there was no danger but Mohanad Ali still rushed in, using all his strength to kick Chanathip's leg. The kick was so strong that the Thai midfielder flew into the air and landed painfully on the ground. The move was really unsportsmanlike , making the home players angry. They rushed to attack the Iraqi star, causing the match to be interrupted.

Fortunately for Ali, his teammates and the referee intervened. Otherwise, the Iraqi striker would have had a hard time escaping the Thai attack. In the stands, fans were upset with Ali's behavior and repeatedly used harsh words towards him.

Ali was given a red card by the referee for this tackle. Afterwards, he stayed in the dressing room and did not come out to receive the gold medal at Iraq's coronation ceremony. According to Thairath, Ali "feared retaliation and boos from the fans" so he did not dare to appear. Coach Graham Arnold had to ask for a separate gold medal for him when he went up to receive the award.

During the press conference, coach Masatada Ishii used the word “uneducated” to describe Mohanad Ali’s handling of the situation. “I also cannot believe that such behavior is happening again in top football. So uneducated. Too violent,” he said.

With Chanathip, coach Ishii immediately pulled him off the field after the collision and fans saw that the 32-year-old midfielder's knee was bandaged. Chanathip will have to be hospitalized for X-rays, while many Iraqi players came to visit and apologize to Chanathip as well as the Thai players. Among them were Zaid Tahseen and Aymen Hussein but Mohanad Ali was nowhere to be seen.