On November 28, at a meeting of the Thai Olympic Committee (NOCT), representatives of regional sports organizations agreed on disciplinary measures for Cambodia after the country suddenly withdrew from many competitions at the 33rd SEA Games taking place in December.
According to the original plan, Cambodia registered to participate in 21 events. However, the Cambodian Olympic Committee (NOCC) sent a document announcing the withdrawal of 9 events just days before the start of the SEA Games. This list includes football, volleyball, cloud football, physical education, judo, karate, pencak silat, wushu and iron ball.
The decision at the last minute has disrupted the organization, especially in football when the groups and competition schedules have to be adjusted to suit the number of remaining teams.
At the meeting, NOCT Vice President Dato Sri Chaiphak Siriwat said that many international sports federations have announced that they will take disciplinary action. The World Cloud cau Federation and the Asian Cloud cau Federation are the first organizations to confirm that they will ban the Cambodian cloud cau team from attending the 2026 ASIAD in Japan.
Siriwat added that about eight other sports federations are also considering similar measures and multiple additional handling options could be applied in the coming period.
A source from host Thailand said that Cambodia's withdrawal of forces stems from recent tensions in sports relations between the two countries. This move continues to create passivity for the organizing committee, while there is not much preparation time for the 33rd SEA Games.
