"Manchester is RED": Thai Police Spark Social Media Buzz with Uniforms After Arresting Manchester City Fan on Drug Charges

Coincidence Strikes as Manchester City Loses the "Manchester Derby"
Social Media Reactions Divided Over the Controversial Post

Thai police have sparked both laughter and controversy by releasing a photo featuring a fan of the English Premier League (EPL) club Manchester City, who was arrested on drug charges, alongside officers wearing the uniform of the club's rival team.

On January 22, Yonhap News TV, citing foreign media outlets such as The Sun and the Daily Mail, reported that a 43-year-old man, referred to as A, was arrested in Det Udom, northeastern Thailand, on charges of possessing methamphetamine. A subsequent photo taken with the man has since gone viral online.

Thai police arrested a drug suspect wearing a Manchester City outfit and posted a photo in uniform with the phrase "Manchester is RED." on social media.

The controversial photo was taken immediately after the arrest and posted on the police department's official social media account. In the photo released by the police, A is seen sitting on a chair wearing a Manchester City uniform, while three police officers stand behind him dressed in Manchester United uniforms. Coincidentally, A was arrested just after Manchester City lost 0-2 to Manchester United in the "Manchester Derby."

The police posted the photo with the phrase "Manchester is RED," and the post quickly spread online. On social media and in online communities frequented by football fans, thousands of comments poured in, generating a heated response. Some users responded positively, saying, "Instead of a rigid image of law enforcement, they showed a sense of human humor," "A scene that any football fan can laugh off," and "Rather than trivializing drug crimes, it actually raises awareness." Among EPL fans, there were also jokes such as, "A doubly painful day for Manchester City fans."

However, there has also been significant criticism. Some pointed out, "A suspect should not be made the object of ridicule," "Is it acceptable for law enforcement to mock an individual's preferences and identity?" and "Mixing criminal investigations with sports rivalries blurs the essence of the case." Certain accounts associated with human rights organizations argued that "this violates the principle of dignity during the arrest process."

This case has drawn even more attention because Thai police have a history of releasing similar "uniform mockery" photos. In March of last year, after cracking down on a street vendor selling illegal drugs, police took and released a photo in which the vendor, who was wearing a Newcastle United uniform, was surrounded by officers dressed in Liverpool uniforms. Coincidentally, this also occurred just after Newcastle had beaten Liverpool 2-1.

At that time as well, social media saw both reactions praising the "witty photo" and criticism that law enforcement's use of social media had crossed a line. Despite the controversy, Thai police did not delete the post and have continued to use similar promotional tactics. Experts have described this phenomenon as a "social media popularization strategy by law enforcement." They note that, with the police image having become rigid due to strict anti-drug policies, there is an intent to increase the effectiveness of their messaging by leveraging the widespread popularity of football culture.

However, Thailand is known globally for its extremely tough penalties for drug crimes. The sale, transport, or distribution of drugs can result in the death penalty. For this reason, some argue that "the stricter the law enforcement in a country, the more important restraint and neutrality become during investigations." Whether this photo will be remembered as an example of flexible law enforcement or as a case of mockery that crossed the line remains a matter of debate.