Two Arrested for Murder Over Rough Football Tackle

Police in Banteay Meanchey province on Sunday arrested two men for the murder of a 24-year-old man over a bad tackle during a heated neighborhood football match the day before, police said.

Theng Yuth, 24, was stabbed in the right thigh by Try Panha, 20, after apparently taking out the legs of the younger man during the match in Serei Saophoan City on Saturday, according to police. When a friend drove Theng Yuth to the hospital, Mr. Panha followed and stabbed him fatally in the stomach.

Svay Chek district police chief Chea Slonh said Monday that Mr. Panha and a suspected accomplice, Thadara Reachsei, also 20, were arrested Sunday evening as they hid on a cassava plantation in Ta Ben commune.

“They were planning to escape to nearby Oddar Meanchey province,” he said. Mr. Slonh said Mr. Panha confessed to murdering Theng Yuth, saying that he had been angry about the violent tackle.

“He also admitted that he drank too much alcohol before playing football,” he added. Phoeung Mann Soeng, chief of the provincial police’s serious crimes bureau, said Mr. Reachsei had helped his friend escape on a motorbike following the murder.

“We will send them to the provincial court tomorrow to be charged.” he said.

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