Thai Food Confiscated at Airport

[Sawatdee]

Thai soccer team miffed by food confiscation

BANGKOK, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Thailand's Asian Games soccer team have been dealt a major blow even before a ball is kicked after their entire supply of food was confiscated at Doha airport.

Qatari customs officials seized almost $1,000 of dried fried beef, rice, chillies, fish sauce and chilli paste upon the squad's arrival in Doha, which has left the team manager worried about the players' well-being.

"If the players can't eat, this won't be very good for our team," Tawatchai Sajjakul told the Thai-language Thai Rath newspaper.

"It could be a problem later in the tournament."

Thailand prides itself on its fiery cuisine, and several national team players have gone as far to suggest a lack of Thai food was one of the reasons for their failure to make it in European leagues.

Tawatchai said he hoped his players can get their daily dose of home cooking at a special kitchen set up for Thai athletes at the Kingdom's embassy in Doha, which will start serving meals on Tuesday.

To add to the team's misery, Thai soccer chiefs are desperately trying to secure accreditation for five coaches forced to find hotels after being turned away from the athletes' village in Doha, the Daily News reported.
The Asian Games soccer tournament gets underway on Nov. 28 three days before the official opening of Games.

[thaibook]

I can understand, due to my studies in Environmental Science, why the customs officials would take it, but why don't they stop everyone else with food as well? I remember just returning home from Thailand to Glasgow, Scotland and people were bringing back local food! The scary thing is that no one even said anything. Just wonder why some get through and others don't. Also, when I was much younger, I smuggled in an orange from Egypt with no problems (was a bit young and didn't notice)

[Betti]

I understand fresh fruit and veg, meat, dairy etc is confiscated, but can see no rationale behind prohibiting canned food and spices. sounds like the customs officer runs a Thai restaurant or what

[FaranginPhetch]

The mid-east customs are really a bitch, no reason for a lot of the things they take but they do.
I have had a lot of different things taken when working there.

But I can't go along with this

Thailand prides itself on its fiery cuisine, and several national team players have gone as far to suggest a lack of Thai food was one of the reasons for their failure to make it in European leagues

I think it was just that they were outclassed..

If food be the cause of soccer playing then they should feed em Brazilian food,
They have won more soccer medals, trophys, and titles than anyone else, and I know they don't eat Thai food.

[Peterg]

I suppose it depends on the laws of the country and as to whether you are honest and declare the stuff or dishonest and smuggle it through!

I always declare stuff since it's a lot less hassle than smuggling and being caught. One time, coming back from the UK, I was carrying around $3000 worth of car parts and 3 pork pies (an English delicacy, yum).

Customs decided the 3 pork pies were a danger to the social fabric of the USA and confiscated them ignoring totaly the duty required on the car parts.

Go figure!

[FaranginPhetch]

Maybe they thought that them pies was cooked in Thailand and had some flys inside em.

Ya know Fruit Flys..

[Nu]

Thailand prides itself on its fiery cuisine, and several national team players have gone as far to suggest a lack of Thai food was one of the reasons for their failure to make it in European leagues.

I can see why the team is miserable as anyone who has to eat unfamiliar food can attest to that. For athletes it can be detrimental but to say that it costed the team the spot in European leaques is going too far.

[thaibook]

Sure do agree. Now that the players have a lack of Thai food from home, they know that they have an excuse to use. Unconciously these players are going onto the field thinking that the cause of any loss is due to the food...

[JWNY]

What a conspiracy...really bad host these Qataris...

I can't believe no official complaint has been sent

JWNY

[Peterg]

The only thing I can find after a quick search is the following:

CUSTOMS REGULATIONS: Qatari customs authorities enforce strict regulations concerning importation into Qatar of items such as alcohol, narcotics, pork products, firearms, or anything deemed pornographic by Qatari authorities. While importation of religious material for personal use is acceptable, importation of religious material for the purpose of proselytizing is not.

So unless pork was involved it seems as though the Thai team was hard done by. Of course, if all the labels were in Thai then perhaps the customs people had the attitude "better safe than sorry".