Sasalak Haiprakhon

Sasalak Haiprakhon
	Haiprakhon in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Sasalak Haiprakhon
Date of birth	8 January 1996 (age 29)
Place of birth	Prakhon Chai, Buriram, Thailand
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)	Wing-back, winger
Team information
Current team	Buriram United
Number	2
Youth career
2012–2014	Surasakmontree School
Senior career*
Years	Team
2014–2017	Bangkok United
2017	→ Buriram United (loan)
2017–	Buriram United
2021	→ Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (loan)
International career‡
2016	Thailand U21
2017	Thailand U23
2018–	Thailand
Medal record
Thailand under-23
Sea Games
Thailand
Asean Football Championship
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 October 2024; ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 October 2024

Sasalak Haiprakhon (Thai: ศศลักษณ์ ไหประโคน, born 8 January 1996) is a Thai professional footballer who plays as a wing-back or winger for Buriram United and the Thailand national team.^[2]

Career

On 23 June 2021, Sasalak joined Korean K League 1 side, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on loan till the end of the season.^[3]

Targeted for racism

Sasalak was subjected to racial abuse from three Ulsan Hyundai players on social media. This event led to significant controversy and criticism from fans in the Southeast Asia region. On 12 June 2023, Park Yong-woo and Lee Kyu-seong called their teammate, Lee Myung-jae 'Sasalak' or 'ASEAN Quota' because of Lee's dark skin.^[4]

Ulsan Hyundai has officially apologized for the racist comments made by their players on Instagram towards Sasalak and promised to prevent a recurrence from happening again in the club. It will conduct training to eliminate all forms of discrimination against racism and thoroughly investigate the incident upon further disciplinary action. On 29 June 2023, The K League Disciplinary Committee announced a one-league match suspension and a fine of 15 million won.^[5]