Hoang Anh Gia Lai's Trieu Viet Hung (left) and Nguyen Thanh Khoi (centre) vie for ball against Hai Phong's Nguyen Thanh Dong during their friendly match on June 16. Hoang Anh Gia Lai won 3-0 as both teams prepare for the return of the V.League 1 in July. Photo Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC

The V.League 1 was suspended on May 7 just hours before the final round matches of the first half of the season after several Song Lam Nghe An players were found to have had contact with a man who was on the same flight with a COVID-19 patient.

The players were quarantined for tests which returned negative.

"The VPF has sent a document to the Vietnam Football Federation in which we have suggested a new schedule for the V.League 1. The national premier league's second period will be held in selected venues," VPF General Secretary Nguyen Minh Ngoc said.

The VPF plans to hold the final round of fixtures of the first period on July 31 in seven stadiums. 

Sai Gon FC are suggested to borrow a venue from Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC (HAGL) or Binh Dinh FC due to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in HCM City.

As Vinh Stadium is undergoing repairs, Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) will have to play in either Ha Tinh or Thanh Hoa.

After that, teams will be divided into the top-six clubs to battle for the championship and the other eight to avoid relegation, with the matches kicking off on August 6.

"In the second period, teams will compete in nine stadiums of Hang Day, Cam Pha, Lach Tray, Thien Truong, Thanh Hoa, Viet Tri, PVF and Thanh Tri in the north. We will make sure that they would not have to travel too much," said Ngoc.

The top six will play a match every four or five days while the bottom teams will have three days rest between their games.

The fixtures, which fans will not be able to attend, would end on August 22.

"It is a thick timetable but we have no other way. It is because the national players will gather for a training camp (in August) to prepare for the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, the 31st SEA Games and the AFF Cup," said Ngoc.

“The national team's outstanding result is partly due to the successful organisation of the V.League 1 which has kept players at their peak. If the V.League 1 can not go to the end, it will have a huge influence on both organisers and clubs. We will collect opinions from participating teams and make changes if necessary."

He added that the plan could only be carried out if the pandemic was well controlled and the VPF's proposal was approved by local authorities.

Currently, HAGL are on top of the table with 29 points. They have returned to training and have had some friendly matches to warm up.

SLNA, who recently extended the contracts of key players Phan Van Duc and Nguyen Xuan Manh, are bottom with 10 points.

Earlier, the VPF also halted V.League 2 play after the eighth round of fixtures. The competition is set to return before the V.League 1 according to Tran Anh Tu, VPF Chairman, but no specific date was revealed.

Meanwhile, there is no plan for the return of the third-tier of football, which is run by the VFF. The competition was paused after the first round of matches on May 9.

Source: Vietnam News

Hoang Anh Gia Lai coach keeps his eye on the prize

Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) are title favourites thanks to an 11-match unbeaten run in the V.League 1 and coach Kiatisuk Senamuang is aiming to keep his players focused in a bid to secure glory.