Decision to ban Gabriel for 6 Months Slammed as “Ridiculous”

After a week of intense controversy Cambodian football has gain been drawn into disrepute with the news that PKR Svay Rieng forward Gabriel has been banned for 6 months and fined 2 million rials for the bizarre crime of “demonizing religion”.

The incident occurred on a match on October 26th when Gabriel scored a goal against Boeung Ket, to reveal a slogan on his underwear saying “100 percent Jesus”.

This according to officials was enough to not only have him banned for a whopping 6 months, but also receive the 2 million rial fine.

Why has this happened?

Quite simply no one knows, with one only able to assume that they have judged a Christian player using Buddhist standards. It is well known that countries such as Thailand and Cambodia take a dim view of Buddhist imagery being used, but alas this is not the same with Christian players.

Gabriel is from Brazil, a devoutly Catholic country where football players are renowned for making Christian gestures, be it via making the sign of the cross, or through what they are wearing. To sum up this is not considered offensive.

Have any other players “demonized religion”

Judging by Cambodian standards quite a lot have, with both Neymar and Kaka doing it at an Olympic Games and Champions League final, not to mention the scores of South American players that do it week in week out – without getting banned.

In essence the situation is ridiculous, with many in the game simply in shock that the league would be so heavy handed in a week where the former CEO got to walk away after failing at his job.

As one pundit put it “after everything that has happened this week, I honestly thought they would just forget about this. It really makes Cambodian football look ridiculous”.

What will it mean for Cambodian Football?

Whilst many abroad lmight look at things and be amused, the danger to the reputation of the domestic game might be irreversible. The CPL is already not the exactly the highest paying league in the region, so why would a player risk coming here and potentially losing 6 months of their career for such an innocuous crime?

And as for Gabriel himself? Since coming to Cambodia not only has he been one of the brightest stars of the competition, but has also had a reputation for being a fine professional. A ban like this will no doubt make him reconsider whether he wants to stay playing in Cambodia.

And whilst a fine player such as Gabriel will have no issue finding a new club to take him on, the danger that would have been done to Cambodian football will likely be irreversible.