Sao Sokha (Photo RFA)PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) - Cambodia's newly elected soccer chief expressed hope Friday that FIFA will abandon its recent threat to suspend his country's membership.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter issued the threat last month after Sao Sokha, a close ally of Prime Minister Hun Sen, was chosen to replace Khek Ravy, a member of the royalist Funcinpec party, as president of the Cambodian Football Federation.
Blatter said the election "flagrantly" violated FIFA statutes and cited political interference by the Cambodian government, but did elaborate.
Consequences of the violation would see Cambodia's national team barred from any tournaments outside the country, Blatter said in an April 28 letter.
During his formal induction to his new job Friday, Sao Sokha, a lieutenant general commanding Cambodia's national military police force, defended his selection as legitimate and denied any government's interference.
He also said he has never had any row with former federation president Khek Ravy, before or after the election.
"We, as Cambodians, do not have any quarrel over the election result, so I hope that they (FIFA) will support us once they've learned that we are smooth with each other," he added.
Other Cambodian federation officials have also said that if the FIFA threat prevails, Cambodia could also lose the annual $250,000 US funding from soccer's world governing body to support development of Cambodian soccer.
Cambodia is ranked No. 184 out of 205 countries and territories on the FIFA world rankings.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter issued the threat last month after Sao Sokha, a close ally of Prime Minister Hun Sen, was chosen to replace Khek Ravy, a member of the royalist Funcinpec party, as president of the Cambodian Football Federation.
Blatter said the election "flagrantly" violated FIFA statutes and cited political interference by the Cambodian government, but did elaborate.
Consequences of the violation would see Cambodia's national team barred from any tournaments outside the country, Blatter said in an April 28 letter.
During his formal induction to his new job Friday, Sao Sokha, a lieutenant general commanding Cambodia's national military police force, defended his selection as legitimate and denied any government's interference.
He also said he has never had any row with former federation president Khek Ravy, before or after the election.
"We, as Cambodians, do not have any quarrel over the election result, so I hope that they (FIFA) will support us once they've learned that we are smooth with each other," he added.
Other Cambodian federation officials have also said that if the FIFA threat prevails, Cambodia could also lose the annual $250,000 US funding from soccer's world governing body to support development of Cambodian soccer.
Cambodia is ranked No. 184 out of 205 countries and territories on the FIFA world rankings.
3 comments:
That is what I don't understand. Didn't the dude Sao Sokha chastised FIFA just not too long ago and even arogantly said that he didn't need the annual funding as well because the Cambodian Soccer Team will not die. Like Hun Sen like his crony. I am sick of this Hun Sen's crony Sao Sokha. Dude, it does not work like that. You did the talk, now you do the walk. With your arrogant expression like that, you don't deserve any financial support from the FIFA. I simply just hate an wishful arrogant begging dawggie. Hahaha
The Hun Sen's crony penentrates to every civil institution. from tribunal judges to Soccer League, Mr. Sao doesn't fit with this position because he is a military officer; he should not interfere with this civil afair. Let the professionals do their job. Cambodia! politic every where even in the soccer field, Mr. Hun Sen controls every aspect of the people.
Do mai ah saker Hun Sen!
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