Phnom Penh Crown head coach Oleg Starynskyi has reiterated that his remarks concerning Preah Khan Reach Svay Rieng FC were not intended as an attack, contrary to misinterpretations circulating on some social media platforms that have caused misunderstandings affecting both clubs.
Through Crown, Starynskyi issued a Tuesday evening statement.
“I am truly pleased to see Cambodian football progressing through the quality shown by these two strong teams,” he said.
“I have always praised the dedication and significant investment made by the president of Svay Rieng FC, His Excellency Dy Vichea, because this is part of the development and advancement of Cambodian football. This is the opposite of what some social media users are claiming after they selectively quoted my words following the match, taking parts out of context to attack, which has affected both clubs,” he added.
In a September 28 match at the Morodok Techo National Stadium, Crown defeated hosts Svay Rieng 3-2. The encounter was intense, leading to confrontations and disputes on the field.
Some refereeing decisions during the match also fuelled tensions between the two clubs.
This atmosphere was linked to statements made by Starynskyi during a pre-match press conference, where he had expressed hope that referees would not show bias toward Svay Rieng simply because the club spends heavily — drawing a comparison to Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim.
Some social media users edited clips of controversial refereeing decisions, overlaying them with his comments, prompting some Svay Rieng supporters to turn against Starynskyi, interpreting his remarks as inappropriate and dismissive of the club’s efforts to strengthen its performance.
Despite Svay Rieng sitting at the top of the Cambodian Premier League (CPL) and maintaining strong form — even after their loss to Crown — some fans viewed Oleg’s comments as undermining their achievements.
However, Starynskyi has since clarified his position in an attempt to avoid further misunderstanding.
He also urged improvements in refereeing standards, notably through the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology to the CPL, to enhance the quality and fairness of competition.
He explained his request, during a post-match press conference.
“I think young referees need more time to develop. It’s not about bringing in more referees around the match, because I believe that could cause even more mistakes. I want to see VAR implemented because club presidents, supporters and sponsors all spend a lot of resources on promoting and investing our sport,” he said.
“We see that countries around us have VAR, so why are we always slower in our development? I want cooperation with technology to help referees improve further. I understand nothing will be 100 per cent correct, but this is a step forward for the development of our football,” he continued.
