Flag errors, referee controversy and withdrawal taint first day of 33rd SEA Games

The organizers displayed the wrong national flags for Malaysia, Laos, the Philippines and Vietnam during the 3x3 basketball event at the 33rd SEA Games on Dec. 10, 2025.

The schedule for the 3x3 basketball event on Wednesday morning became the focus when organizers repeatedly displayed incorrect national flags for competing teams. The information boards at both the men's and women's arenas showed mismatched flags for matchups involving Malaysia vs Laos, Philippines vs Vietnam, and Thailand vs Vietnam.

This marks a recurring issue for the hosts, following similar errors in the women's futsal schedule and the opening ceremony on Dec. 9, where flags and territory maps were incorrectly displayed.

Adding to the technical embarrassment, the scoring system in a match between Laos and Malaysia displayed the correct flags but labeled the Lao team as "UNK" (Unknown) for the first five minutes of play, baffling viewers.

The country name for Laos was displayed as "UNK" (unknown) in the 3x3 basketball match against Malaysia.

Tensions boiled over at the Fashion Island Shopping Center Arena in Bangkok, where the taekwondo competition was temporarily suspended for hours due to a fierce dispute over officiating.

Vietnam and the Philippines simultaneously filed formal complaints alleging blatant bias in favor of Singapore in the mixed doubles event. Filipino reporters described the gold medal awarded to Singapore as "stolen."

Immediately following the final, Vietnam team leader Nguyen Thu Trang and coach Nguyen Minh Tu lodged a protest, asserting that the Singaporean pair committed three unpenalized fouls, two by the female athlete and one by the male, due to a loss of balance. The Philippines joined the protest, citing inaccurate scoring in their semi-final loss to Singapore.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino speaks with the referee after the taekwondo event on Dec. 10, 2025. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Dong

Despite both teams submitting video evidence of the errors, referees refused to review the footage or alter the results. At 1:30 p.m., the organizers upheld the original decision, forcing the Vietnamese pair to settle for the silver medal.

The chaotic start was further highlighted by the complete withdrawal of Cambodia from the SEA Games 33, due to safety concerns related to ongoing border conflicts. The move shocked the regional sporting community, especially as Cambodia had attended the opening ceremony just one day prior. The withdrawal has forced organizers to urgently reshuffle schedules, with some events now reduced to just two competing nations for gold medals.