An increasing number of clubs have been threatening to leave the V-League this year for various reasons, and fans place blame on both the clubs and their organisers for being unprofessional.

XMXT Saigon quit V-League last year

After the scandal in which several players were caught betting on a match they played in against the Malaysian team, Vissai Ninh Binh FC left the V-League. Meanwhile, HV.An Giang FC is threatening to leave because they do not want to see their imaged further tarnished.

Recently, concerns were raised about Lach Tray Stadium, after the footballer, Samson of Hanoi T&T FC, fought with two other players from Haiphong FC during a match. Samson was suspended for four matches, but the video showed that players of Haiphong FC provoked the altercation by using violent and illegal tactics. The two players, Thanh Tung and Van Nam, were then suspended for two and seven matches respectively.

After the Vietnam Football Federation announced the punishments, Haiphong FC voiced their opposition, saying they would leave the V-League if the VFF refused to make the penalties on Samson and another player from Hanoi T&T more harsh. There were rumours that some clubs have to quit because of financial problems. Haiphong FC still seems to be in shock because the new chairman of the VFF did not give them preferential treatment and make attempts to cover up the incident.

The Vietnamese football scene has also lost confidence of fans since the number of high-ranking football clubs is much higher than the number of lower-ranking clubs. Moreover, the VFF and the Vietnam Professional Football Company still want to retain weak clubs. Penalties handed out often disappoint the fans.

Football club owners often threaten to quit the V-League to oppose decisions of referees or the Disciplinary Committee. The head of the V-League organising board, Tanaka Koji expressed his displeasure over the irresponsible threats from the clubs.

DTrinews