Lao female referee Bich Thuy is emotional after being dropped from the AFC's list and will miss the ASEAN Women's Cup.

After a week of silence, Bich Thuy has officially spoken out about the disappointment of the Vietnamese women's team's defeat against the Philippines and the mistakes of the Laotian referee. Her sharing came at the same time that the AFC officially removed the Laotian referee from the list, drawing public attention.

The absence was anticipated and a tacit "penalty" from the AFC.

According to the AFC's list, the 2026 Women's Asian Cup in Australia will feature the largest number of referees in history with 45. However, in the list of assistant referees from Southeast Asia, only representatives from Thailand and Vietnam (referee Ha Thi Phuong) are named. Chanthavong Phutsavan's absence means she will no longer have the opportunity to officiate at the continent's biggest tournament, ending concerns about facing a familiar face for the Vietnamese women's team.

Although the AFC has not issued any official disciplinary action regarding the error at the 33rd SEA Games , the removal of the Laotian female referee from this important tournament is implicitly understood by experts as a tough professional measure. In top-level football, a single wrong call can ruin the efforts of an entire team, and the price Chanthavong has paid is an international career that is more fragile than ever after the wave of fierce criticism from regional public opinion.

Bich Thuy's heartbreak: "The most beautiful goal of my career was stolen from me."

Returning to the infuriating moment a week ago, striker Bich Thuy made a well-positioned header that found the back of the net against the Philippines in the 30th minute. Despite being more than two meters ahead of the opponent's last player, she was flagged offside by Chanthavong Phutsavan, much to the astonishment of everyone watching the match. The Vietnamese women's team then fought like warriors until the penalty shootout but had to watch the gold medal slip from their grasp.

After a week of silence, Bich Thuy finally shared an emotional post on her personal page: "Strength is not a choice, but an instinct." The star of the Vietnamese national team admitted that it was the most beautiful header of her 31-year career, but it ended in tears due to a wrong decision by the referee. "A sad ending for 31. But thank myself for not stopping in the face of any challenge," Bich Thuy choked up as she confided, leaving millions of fans heartbroken for her efforts that went unrewarded.

A wake-up call for the work of upholding justice.

Chanthavong's absence from the 2026 Women's Asian Cup is, at least emotionally, "good news" for Vietnamese fans after the injustices they have suffered. However, looking at the bigger picture, this is a valuable lesson for refereeing in regional tournaments – where VAR is not yet widely used to correct individual errors. A moment of inattention or misjudgment not only robs an athlete of their aspirations but also closes the door to reaching greater heights for those in charge of officiating.

Currently, the Vietnamese women's team is focusing on new goals, leaving behind the disappointment of the SEA Games to prepare for the continental campaign. The gratitude of the fans and the recognition of experts for Bich Thuy's "disallowed" goal is the most prestigious title she can receive. Meanwhile, the future of the Laotian female referee remains a big question mark, as the trust of the AFC and Southeast Asian football fans in her has hit rock bottom after that fateful flag.

The Philippine national team posted shocking comments about the Lao referee, admitting defeat to Vietnam in one aspect! Moon09:55:50 24/12/2025Manila Montet FC recently caused a stir by posting an admission of defeat to Vietnam on one point, along with shocking comments about the Laotian referee. The Philippine side not only frankly pointed out the referee's mistakes but also expressed admiration for the Vietnamese women's team.