The morally bankrupt Cambodian government is at it again. This time, rather than seeking to jail, murder and otherwise “disappear” critics of the regime, Cambodian President Hun Sen has engaged in unspecified political interference in the country’s April 24 election of a lieutenant general commanding Cambodia's national military police force as the new President of the Cambodian Football Federation. Obviously, he was elected based on his soccer savvy, not his regime affiliation.In response, soccer’s international governing authority, FIFA, will likely seek to suspend the Cambodian team, as reported here. Replying to FIFA’s threat of a suspension, Cambodia has apparently submitted a report justifying its conduct with respect to the election. If FIFA follows through on its threat, Cambodia will lose $250,000 in soccer-related aid. Cambodia is not amongst the teams that will be competing in this summer’s World Cup, but it would lose its international soccer eligibility.
While international soccer rarely captures America’s attention, it has always provided fascinating political and ideological melodramas. Unfortunately, the U.S. (Group E) and Iran (Group D), near stalemate on the nuclear issue, won’t play each other in this World Cup unless both teams at least advance to the semifinals. The 1998 and 2000 matchups were memorable.