The Vietnam Football Federation’s Disciplinary Subcommittee on March 19 decided to suspend Nam Dinh club’s midfielder Hoang Danh Ngoc for six matches and fine him VND10 million for improper behaviour during a match against The Cong on March 5.

In the match against The Cong in Nam Dinh city this Sunday, after his teammate scored a goal, Danh Ngoc pointed his middle finger at The Cong fans and clapped his other hand over his sex organ.

The Cong’s fans reported Danh Ngoc’s behaviour to the V-League organising board.

The Cong’s chief coach Vuong Tien Dung confirmed The Cong fans’ complaint. He said he was very disappointed about Danh Ngoc’s deed because he is a member of the Olympic team and a very promising young player.

Danh Ngoc was not penalised by the referee during the match but his gestures were seen by VFF Supervisor Nguyen Minh Ngoc and the incident was recorded on tape. The case was transferred to the VFF’s Disciplinary Subcommittee.

The VFF Disciplinary Subcommittee made the above decision after officials watched the clip of the match, consulted with the supervisor and the major referee of that match.

According to the VFF Disciplinary Subcommittee, Danh Ngoc’s act was uncultured, not simply provoking. Moreover, this deed was repeated several times during the match.

The match’s chief referee Nguyen Trong Thu said that during the match, Danh Ngoc responded badly to referees.

Danh Ngoc and his club, Nam Dinh, have the right to lodge an appeal within seven days.

The VFF Disciplinary Subcommittee Nguyen Hai Huong said that this is the heaviest fine that the subcommittee had imposed on a footballer so far for uncultured behaviour.

Nam Dinh club’s Chairman, Nguyen Hung Thai, told VietNamNet that he hadn’t received the VFF’s decision yet but he confirmed that Nam Dinh didn’t tolerate unsportsmanlike behaviour.

“I also condemn such deeds but we should have sympathy for Danh Ngoc because he is very young,” Thai added.

Danh Ngoc, 19, is considered a promising football talent of Vietnam. In 2008, he and the U22 Vietnam team won the Merdeka Cup.

Danh Ngoc is the first Vietnamese player to have been caught waving his middle finger at fans.

My Lan