UDON THANI, THAILAND – A Brazilian professional footballer was accused of refusing to pay a bar bill in Udon Thani and assaulting a bar owner and an elderly US tourist before fleeing.
Dispute over bar bill in early-morning incident
The 42-year-old Osvaldo Dos Santos Neto reportedly arrived alone at a bar in Soi Samphanmit around 3 a.m., ordering beer and drinks for hostesses. When the bill of 5,100 baht (about 125 euros) was presented at 10:40 a.m., he suddenly claimed he could not access his banking app. Staff suggested he withdraw cash from a nearby ATM, but as Neto left the bar and employees followed, the situation escalated.
Elderly US tourist and bar owner attacked
The 74-year-old American tourist Douglas Robin Barker tried to calm the conflict, according to witnesses.
“The Brazilian is said to have slapped him hard in the face and knocked him to the ground,”
said eyewitnesses. Bar owner Kanyanee Kaewnok, 29, then attempted to stop Neto from fleeing, but he allegedly hit her in the face and pushed her to the ground before running toward his vehicle.
Staff pull player from car amid chaotic chase
In a dramatic confrontation, bar employees reportedly dragged the fleeing player out of his car and attacked him, leaving two male staff members with scratches and bruises. Amid the chaos, Kanyanee managed to grab the footballer’s wallet from the vehicle, but Neto broke free, jumped back into the car and sped away. When police later detained him, he was found wearing only green shorts and sneakers, without a passport or any identification.
Experienced striker under pressure at Udon United
Investigations showed that Osvaldo Dos Santos Neto was an experienced forward who had already played for several clubs in the Thai League. He had only recently been signed by third-division side Udon United and made his official debut for the club three days earlier. The club had not publicly commented on the incident, but a suspension of the player was considered likely.
Case adds to concerns over violent foreign offenders
The incident formed part of a series of violent cases involving foreigners in Thailand, with a recent mass brawl among tourists in Pattaya injuring, among others, a pregnant woman. Thai authorities were under pressure to act more decisively against violent foreign nationals. For the Brazilian footballer, the night in Udon Thani was expected to bring costly legal consequences and could mark the abrupt end of his career in Thailand.
Debate over responsibilities of professional athletes
The report also raised broader questions about the role of professional athletes off the field. It noted that they enjoyed attention, trust and privileges, yet their conduct in everyday life could damage both the sport and the host country. The incident prompted calls for clubs to respond more consistently to such behavior to protect the reputation of football and the communities in which players lived.