Phnom Penh Crown have suspended seven players and four match officials for alleged match fixing the club announced on Sunday.

Five-time champions Crown handed indefinite suspensions to a number of players and officials. Players Yok As Ari, Thong Da, Sary Matnorotin, Toch Sok Heng, Ngoy Srin, Sos Suhana and San Usaphea were disciplined, with club officers Ngoun Chansothea, Ser Syna, Tes Sophat and youth coach Bouy Dary also receiving disciplinary measures for alleged match-fixing.

Rithy Samnang, president of Phnom Penh Crown FC said he was “extremely saddened to announce a severe punishment of an indefinite suspension from all club activities for seven players and four officials of Phnom Penh Crown FC.

“These suspensions are for gross misconduct and a serious breach of their employment contracts by way of match manipulation and the deliberate harming of Phnom Penh Crown FC’s reputation.”

“This included persuading said first-team players to under-perform in key matches over the past two months, plans to hurt key foreign players in training, as well as using proxies and fake accounts to post negative and inflammatory comments and images on Facebook,” he added.

This is the third time the club has issued official announcements to suspend its players in recent years. The two previous suspensions were issued over alleged player misconduct.

“Honesty and integrity are the cornerstones of professional football and we will not tolerate any activities relating to the manipulation of football matches and the influencing of match results,” Samnang continued.

“Corruption and match manipulation are a poison in sport. We want football to be played in an atmosphere where supporters can trust the integrity of the players and the sincerity of the results,” he said.

The Cambodian national side, meanwhile, on Sunday travelled to Iran for their Asian zone qualifier for the 2018 FIFA World Cup against Afghanistan on November 12.

Looking to bounce back from a 1-0 defeat at home in their previous encounter with Afghanistan, head coach Lee Tae Hoon has selected a squad of 23 players, including stars Thierry Chantha Bin, Khoun Laboravy and Chan Vathnaka.

TRANSLATED BY IN SOPHENG