Thailand's Chonburi have been handed an unexpected route in the 2016 Asian Champions League (ACL) after it was confirmed by the AFC that Suphanburi's stadium had failed to meet the necessary criteria.
The Sharks will now face Yangon United for a place in the playoff next year, despite ending the season two points behind the War Elephant.
With the Thai Premier League's (TPL) top two teams -- Buriram United and Muang Thong United -- meeting in this month's FA Cup final, a place in the ACL preliminary round became the reward for finishing third in the TPL.
After a seesaw battle that saw four teams still in contention for third spot on the final day of the season last weekend, Suphanburi prevailed by two points over fourth placed Chonburi and Bangkok United. Chonburi had ended the campaign with a dismal 3-0 home defeat to Saraburi, while the Bangkok Angels had a similarly disappointing result, losing 3-1 at home to Chainat.
However, Chonburi have been given the ACL spot due to Suphanburi's failure to meet the stadium requirements.
Chonburi media director Jeerasak Chomthong told the Bangkok Post: "The AFC has sent us a letter to confirm that we will be the third side from Thailand to play in the AFC Champions League next year."
There was some initial confusion over how the decision had been communicated and confirmed. But, one day later, the AFC had updated their website to state that Chonburi, rather than Suphanburi, would face Yangon United in the ACL preliminary round in February.
The possible issues with the stadium had been reported in the weeks leading up to the end of the season, with suggestions that neither Suphanburi or Bangkok United would be able to use their home grounds in the event of ACL quaification.
United head coach Mano Polking recently denied it would be an issue for his side when he told ESPN FC, "We just need to make some changes at the Thai-Japanese stadium [Bangkok United's home ground]."
The Bangkok side's failure to make third spot have made this a non-issue but this is not the case for their rivals.
Suphanburi have yet to issue an official statement but may be preparing to challenge the decision. It is a bitter blow to such an ambitious club, who had exceeded expectations by finishing in third after a disappointing sixth place in 2014.
Chonburi, on the other hand, will relish the opportunity to return to Asia's elite competition. They dismissed Kitchee, of Hong Kong, in the preliminary round last year before an agonising extra-time loss to Japan's Kashiwa Reysol in the playoff.
They will look to take advantage of their good fortune by going one better next year.