A gunman sparked panic when he allegedly opened fire 'to intimidate his rivals' during a football match in Thailand on Sunday.

Khum Sopeak, 20, reportedly fired at the crowd in the middle of a friendly football match between Cambodian workers at the 9UP Arena Sport Complex in Pathum Thani province on December 10.

More than 200 spectators were sent scattering when the gunshots rang out, while Khum fled the scene on a motorcycle.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Akeamorn Seesan of the Khukhot Police Station said officers responded to the incident at 1:30 pm.

There were no injuries reported, while four 9mm bullet casings were found lodged in different parts of the building.

Authorities said the suspect, from neighboring Cambodia, had walked onto the pitch wearing a football jersey before firing the gun. Border security was tightened as they believed the alleged gunman would flee the country.

Police announced they have arrested Khum Sopeak after reviewing CCTV footage along his escape route.

Speaking to authorities, the Cambodian man said he had no intention to harm anyone, claiming he merely wanted to 'intimidate his rivals in self-defense.'

Khum had used a modified BB gun that was loaded with live ammunition. He said he had thrown the firearm away in a canal in Future Park Rangsit before hopping on a bus to border province Chanthaburi.

However, he was arrested before he could cross over to Cambodia.

Thanat Thanasatiporn, 38, the manager of 9UP Arena Sport Complex said he had also filed a report with the police and will be suing Khum for the damages caused to his property.

He said: 'We have been organising Cambodian football matches continuously and there have never been any shootings until now. The stadium has put in place very good security measures, and the person who caused the incident is an outsider. It has nothing to do with football matches at our stadium at all.'

Police Lieutenant General Jirasant Kaewsaeng-eak, Commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 1, said Khum will be charged with possessing unlicensed firearms, carrying unlicensed firearms in public, being an illegal alien in Thailand, and 'attempting to kill others using explosives unnecessarily in a city, village, or community.'

Thailand has one of the highest gun ownership and gun homicide rates in Asia.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has vowed to tighten gun control following a shocking shooting attack in a Bangkok mall that killed three people in October.