'Elbow King' Theerathon Bunmathan suffers broken nose facing Chinese club

Theerathon Bunmathan suffered a severe injury following a strong clash during the game with Shanghai Shenhua, causing him to leave the field early and face the possibility of missing important matches for Buriram United and the Thai national team.

Buriram United’s 2-0 victory over Shanghai Shenhua in the AFC Champions League Elite 2025/26 should have been a perfect night, but it was overshadowed by Theerathon Bunmathan’s injury. The veteran defender collided hard with an opponent near the end of the match, causing significant nosebleeding and forcing him to leave the pitch immediately, worrying teammates and fans alike.

According to Thairath, the incident happened during the final group stage match in the East Asia region on February 17. Although Buriram United finished the group stage with a convincing home win, images of Theerathon clutching his face with visible bleeding quickly spread on social media. Thai fans collectively sent their support to the 36-year-old defender, concerned about the severity of his injury.

Immediately after the match, Chatkamon Muayman—Theerathon’s wife—updated the situation on her personal social media, stating that doctors had completed treatment and expressing gratitude to those who showed concern. This update somewhat reassured fans, even though the exact extent of the injury was not yet disclosed.

According to sources from Thairath, Theerathon’s condition was worse than initially expected as he suffered a broken nose. Doctors advised the player to rest for about two weeks before resuming light running, and he would need at least one month before being fit to perform headers. This means he will almost certainly miss the ACL Elite round of 16 match against Melbourne City in early March.

Not only Buriram United faces a loss, but the Thailand national team is also closely monitoring the recovery of this experienced key player. Theerathon risks missing the crucial Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Turkmenistan at the end of March if he is not fully fit.

In the 2025/26 season, Theerathon continues to hold an irreplaceable role despite being 36 years old. He appeared in 32 matches across all competitions, scoring 1 goal and providing 10 assists. The consistent performance of this left-back is one of the reasons Buriram United still has chances to compete for up to five titles, including Thai League 1, Chang FA Cup, Muangthai Cup, Shopee Cup, and AFC Champions League Elite.

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