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In the fourth minute of the second half's injury time, with Iraq leading 1-0, Ali rushed from behind and kicked Songkrasin straight in the leg. The 25-year-old striker made no attempt to play the ball, as if his sole intention was to injure the Thailand captain despite Iraq already holding the lead.
Referee Nazmi Nasaruddin immediately showed Ali a red card, sending him off, while players from both sides got into a fight on the field.
Songkrasin had to leave the pitch on a stretcher but was still able to walk during the awards ceremony.
"I have never been physically assaulted like that while playing football," Songkrasin told Thai newspaper Daily News. "I'm sorry for what happened. Fortunately, it was my muscles that were hurt, not my ligaments. But I still need to check on this injury carefully."
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Chanathip Songkrasin speaks during an event on May 3, 2025. Photo by Instagram/@jaychanathip |
Ali, who has previously torn his knee ligaments twice, nearly caused a similar injury to his opponent. Thailand players rushed to confront Ali, but his teammates restrained him before the situation escalated further.
When asked if he had something to say to Ali, Songkrasin replied that he was furious but assumed Ali likely regretted the foul.
"This should never have happened in a football match. He had the advantage but chose violence instead. I'm confused and saddened by what happened."
Ali had earlier scored the match's only goal in the 75th minute with a header. The striker, born in 2000, has netted 27 goals in 60 appearances for Iraq and has previously scored twice against Vietnam, in the 2019 Asian Cup group stage and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Unlike Songkrasin, many Thai fans were unforgiving of Ali's action. After the match, Ali's Instagram account was flooded with criticism.
One fan wrote: "If you want to hit your opponent, be a boxer and don't play football."
An Iraqi fan responded to the backlash: "To my Thai brothers and sisters, with love and sincere apologies. Ali's actions do not represent all of us. That behavior was inappropriate and completely unethical."
Thailand coach Masatada Ishii also condemned Ali's actions: "I can't believe a professional player would do that. Ali acted uneducated, preferring violence over playing football."
Despite his injury, Songkrasin apologized to Thai football fans for failing to defend the King's Cup title. The midfielder, who entered at the start of the second half, created two scoring opportunities that his teammates could not convert.
Although the King's Cup is a friendly tournament, it holds a 51-year history and contributes to FIFA rankings.
Mohanad Ali's red card and the brawl that follows in the King's Cup final between Thailand and Iraq, Sept. 7, 2025.
