A recent Kun Khmer match at a private venue. BTV
Vath Chamroeun, secretary of state for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, has shared that the ministry is currently drafting a legal framework to regulate professional sports competitions — with a particular focus on combat sports — as irregularities in judging and scoring have become persistent, and to address other unresolved issues.
Just last week, four referees were suspended for three to four weeks by the Khmer Boxing Federation due to improper conduct during matches that led to widespread public criticism. Chamroeun emphasised that such issues are damaging the preservation and development of Kun Khmer, both domestically and internationally.
Within this context, Chamroeun clarified that national sports federations are in charge of technical management and the professional organisation of events. He noted that professional athletes often enter into agreements or contracts with sponsors and arena owners for financial gain — which is not aligned with the spirit of sport for health, unity and friendship, but rather is sport for money.
The ministry is now in the process of drafting legislation to govern professional competitions in order to uphold the value of Kun Khmer and prevent it from losing popularity or facing more serious consequences due to ongoing irregularities such as judging or scoring that lacks transparency.
“In the face of all the conflicts and crises related to this matter, the education ministry is preparing a legal framework to govern these specific professional sports so that they can operate more effectively. It will be released soon,” said Chamroeun.
“Under the guidance of Minister of Education, Youth and Sport Hang Chuon Naron, we are preparing to launch a law on professional sports management. That way, all conflicts and disputes related to match outcomes for profit will need to be fair and just — like any standard sport — once the law is in place. It will not be possible to violate it,” he added.
Vath Chamroeun, secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, speaks to The Post during a May 20 interview. Chhorn Norn
Chamroeun acknowledged that while irregularities in professional fights do not directly affect the management of official sports, they do influence public perception and reduce public support. If this continued, he warned that it could lead to “a movement of opposition and declining support for our Kun Khmer”.
“We believe this is an issue that requires collaborative work and adjustments. What’s important is that when mistakes are made, they are reviewed and corrected, with solutions found to prevent their recurrence. Wins and losses in professional sports must be clearly justified in scoring. Referees and judges must have a higher level of professionalism and expertise than ordinary referees in order to do the job,” he continued.
Chamroeun proposed formal examinations for referees and judges to ensure quality and accurate scoring.
“If judges just appoint their own friends or associates, that’s a serious error and creates irregularities in judging,” he said.
“All sports must have standards and qualifications for referees and judges. Any judge who commits errors should be disqualified. In this way, those who judge with increasing fairness will gain more public support. Rising support means more recognition and potential sponsorship,” he suggested.
Chamroeun, who also serves as secretary-general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC), explained why fans should support the new measures.
“The public should clearly understand that these are competitions based on agreements between the athletes and their sponsors. The athletes essentially sign themselves over to the competition in exchange for payment. This is not the Olympic spirit. Olympic and official sports only reward athletes with honor — not money or financial incentives,” he said.
