Just watched a clip on a Thai TV Network saying that a report of some kind has just been published that blames referees for violence in Thai football matches.

Apparently there is too much local political 'interference' (the C word was mentioned I think) leading to biased refereeing which is angering the crowds. Only in Thailand!!

The TV anchorman in most netwroks I regularly watch would have added the quip 'so none thought to blame the local politicians then', and I might have added 'so nonoe thought to blame the local culture then'. I love Thailand but how can you not as a nation hang your head in shame when you see this kind of stuff being paraded on TV?

I blame England , next.

Even worse, those TV clips do make it all over the world. Really sad.

Pandering to the wishes of those at the top of the local hierarchy, be it local politicians (godfathers), police colonels, business tycoons, is deeply, deeply ingrained in Thai culture. It is based on the unchecked power, money and violence that backs up someone's position at the top of the heap.

Why would anyone think Thai referees would be able to step outside their own culture for 90 minutes every Sunday and then return to their community and job in safety and security?