Udom gets 6 months

Khemara's Sophal Udom is sidelined for the next 6 months, pending an appeal

I've just heard on the grapevine that Khemara striker Sophal Udom, who ran 50 metres to physically attack referee Sang Sopheak from behind, then scarpered off the pitch smartish, jumping the fence and quickly leaving the ground after a pal delivered his kit bag, in last Wednesday's C-League game against Wat Phnom, has been banned for six months for his inexcusable actions. And rightly so. No-one is above the law and assaulting the referee, whatever the provocation is totally unacceptable. The 22 year old is one of the best homegrown strikers in the C-League, and was on the verge of a national call-up last season, though he has a tendency to moan and groan at match officials and Khemara will certainly miss his presence, but an example must be sent out to deter any other would-be offenders. In some countries, such an attack would also incur a civil court action.

Referee Sang Sopheak was the victim of an unprovoked assault by Khemara's Sophal Udom. Photo Nick Sells