Cambodian PM Hun Sen bans gambling on FIFA World Cup 2010

Samdech Techo PM Hun Sen warned football gambling on FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa

By Chhorng Long Heng

On June 8, Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen said that the government did not allow the football supporters in the country to gamble during the world cup in south Africa which is held from June 11-July11 this year and the local police authorities are ready to arrest anyone founding betting on this event.
“The World Cup will begin on Friday and I would like to appeal to the local people not to bet on football during the event," said Prime Minister said on June 8 at the graduation ceremony of a university in Phnom Penh . “The local police authorities will look for the both secret and open football betting across the country. Please, just watch it and clap your hands to congratulate the football competition and watch it as leisure," he added.
“I do not want to see the football participating teams win or lose for the scores during the match, but Cambodian football fans lose and win the money from the competition," He emphasized.
At the same time, He ordered local police authorities to crack down on the all forms of football gambling and the police should not arrest the football spectators in group because it will have live broadcasting from the event in the country. He also urged the police to crack down on other crimes across the country and do not wait from his recommendation and implement the order.
“The police should crack down on the offence regularly through implementing the existing law enforcement,” he noted. He highlighted that the sole and largest football gambling industry Cambosix already shut down its business last year after the gambling caused family disputes, domestic violence and robbery.

Touch Naroth, Phnom Penh Police Chief told SEAW that police authorities will investigate all forms of gambling during this world cup and urged all local people to cooperate with police to point the gambling places and reach to arrest the gamblers. “The Gambling will create robbery acts, crimes and affect social order and security in country,” he said.

According to report from the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa this year, the match will be started from June 11- July11 and the qualified teams has 32 teams participating the tournament, including, Australia , Japan , Korea DPR , Korea Republic, Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria ,South Africa (hosts), Honduras, Mexico, United States ,Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, New Zealand, Denmark, England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland.

It said that as the host nation, South Africa qualified automatically for the tournament and this event become the historic one in Africa and South Africa after it had experienced race discrimination. .
“I appeal to all the players and coaches to observe this fair play. In 2010 we want to prove that football is more than just kicking a ball but has social and cultural value. So we ask the players “please observe fair play”. so they will be an example to the rest of the world,” FIFA President Joseph Blatter said in website of FIFA world cup.
It continued that the country is also going to implement special measures to ensure the safety and security of local and international tourists attending the matches in accordance with standard FIFA requirements, including a temporary restriction of flight operation in the airspace surrounding the stadiums. It noted that the police have implemented a de facto state of emergency by banning protests during the event.

It showed that South Africans and others have expressed concern that the World Cup will stimulate the illicit sex trade. Football fans are being warned that South Africa has one of the worst HIV infection rates in the world and the British government has given £1 million to buy 42 million condoms. However, AIDS campaigners have accused FIFA of blocking the distribution of condoms at football grounds.
The statement in its website explained that the total prize money on offer for the tournament was confirmed by FIFA as $420 million, a 60 percent increase on the 2006 tournament. Before the tournament, each participating team would receive $1 million, for preparation costs. Once at the tournament, teams exiting at the group stage would receive $8 million. Thereafter, the prize money would be distributed as $9 million for Round, and 16, $18 million for Quarter- finals, $20 million for Semi-finals and $24 million for Runners up, $30 million for Winners.

Mr. Ouk Sethycheat, General Secretary of Football Federation of Cambodia said that Cambodia delegation will take part in the football for Hope Festival 2010 in South Africa . The delegation consists of 3 foreigners, Scot Lee, founder of spirit of soccer, Steven Sonderman, country manager and Rachel Haig, senior program advisor with two Cambodian coaches and 8 players (4 boy and 4 girls).

“They will leave Cambodia for South Africa on June 27, to join festival and watch the FIFA,” he said. He noted that the Eight Cambodian teenagers will compete in the football tournament and join the cultural exchange in South Africa during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in the purpose of eradicating land mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the country and worldwide. They have been training with National youth U-14 teams before they go,” he said. ###