The Football Federation have slapped an 8-match ban on Phnom Penh Crown midfielder Phoung Narong (pictured) after his moment of madness interrupted the C-League match between his club and National Police last week. A national team player, Narong responded to a verbal altercation with Police defender Touch Pancharong by leaving the substitute's bench and racing onto the pitch, though he was quickly shooed off the field by his teammate Sun Sopanha. The match referee Thong Chankethya brandished a red card at Narong, as well as Pancharong, which inflamed the Police coaching staff, who ordered their team off the field and then refused to play on, forfeiting the match. The match was awarded to Crown 5-0, who were leading 2-0 at the time of the incident, 24 minutes into the game. Narong was suspended by his club the next day, indefinitely, as a result of his actions. The FFC ban of eight games will mean he will sit out the rest of the current season and the first four games of next season as well. It seems a mite harsh in my opinion, though I presume the FFC are sending out a message that they won't tolerate such behaviour. However, they have failed miserably to act strongly following other incidents this season, so it's pretty one-sided. The National Police for example, were fined a paltry $500 (2 million riels) for their failure to finish the match and warned as to their future conduct. I would've thought a much higher fine against the club, censure of the club officials who took their team off the field and a docking of points in addition to the match forfeit would've been more appropriate in the circumstances. Effectively, the Police didn't like the referee's decision, so took their ball and went home like spoilt brats. If the Cambodian League is ever going to be taken seriously as a professionally-run competition, then this behaviour cannot be tolerated and only effective action - $500 is not effective action in my view - will give that message to each of the clubs in the league.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Narong's punishment
The Football Federation have slapped an 8-match ban on Phnom Penh Crown midfielder Phoung Narong (pictured) after his moment of madness interrupted the C-League match between his club and National Police last week. A national team player, Narong responded to a verbal altercation with Police defender Touch Pancharong by leaving the substitute's bench and racing onto the pitch, though he was quickly shooed off the field by his teammate Sun Sopanha. The match referee Thong Chankethya brandished a red card at Narong, as well as Pancharong, which inflamed the Police coaching staff, who ordered their team off the field and then refused to play on, forfeiting the match. The match was awarded to Crown 5-0, who were leading 2-0 at the time of the incident, 24 minutes into the game. Narong was suspended by his club the next day, indefinitely, as a result of his actions. The FFC ban of eight games will mean he will sit out the rest of the current season and the first four games of next season as well. It seems a mite harsh in my opinion, though I presume the FFC are sending out a message that they won't tolerate such behaviour. However, they have failed miserably to act strongly following other incidents this season, so it's pretty one-sided. The National Police for example, were fined a paltry $500 (2 million riels) for their failure to finish the match and warned as to their future conduct. I would've thought a much higher fine against the club, censure of the club officials who took their team off the field and a docking of points in addition to the match forfeit would've been more appropriate in the circumstances. Effectively, the Police didn't like the referee's decision, so took their ball and went home like spoilt brats. If the Cambodian League is ever going to be taken seriously as a professionally-run competition, then this behaviour cannot be tolerated and only effective action - $500 is not effective action in my view - will give that message to each of the clubs in the league.
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5 comments:
And yet...in the more professional world of Thai football, walk-offs are officially sanctioned by the FAT thanks to a by-law which allows teams to leave the field of play for up to 15 minutes to protest a referee's decision!
Re: Walkoff Thai Style - 11 against 10 was always going to be unfair for the Police team - especially as it was a Phnom Penh player who had stormed onto the pitch from the substitutes bench - provocation or not. PPC reward three points and three extra goals gifted to the tally and goal difference - thankyou very much. Aren't clubs responsible for the actions of their players? Why just the Police team fined?
Anon 1:55PM,
Indeed the club are responsible for the actions of their players and hence PPCFC's indefinite suspension of the player. However, as you appreciate, no-one could've prepared for the player's actions. The final say is up to the Federation who recognised the severity of Narong's actions and banned him for 8 matches. They also recognised the National Police's complete disrespect for the rules of football and fined them, when in reality their decision to walk-off was far worse than the 10 seconds of madness by Narong.
Andy
NRFC,
I am amazed by the Thai football rule that allows a team to leave the field for 15 minutes in such a fashion. There is no reason to leave a pitch because of a refereeing decision; clubs have to be professional enough to get on with the game, and let the authorities deal with any possible miscarriages of justice after the match. This is 1 rule I do NOT want to see come into the game in any other country.
Andy
Andy, No one perfect. I think Crown should give him a chance If he can say apology to Fan, club and all player in the public. It's the big lesson learn for his life. And he will be remembered if he become a coach in the future.
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