The inability of referees to control matches in the first five rounds of the top-flight V-League season has been a real concern for many clubs.

The Cong, for instance, has been badly affected in as many as three matches by shoddy refereeing.

Mui rejected The Cong coach Vuong Tien Dung’s contention that the department was not taking the referees’ mistakes seriously.

At a recent press conference, Dung had angrily listed a lot of mistakes made by referees that put his club in a bad situation.

Mui said it was natural that referees make mistakes. They didn’t mean to be biased. He pointed out that last season, The Cong had benefited from the referees’ mistakes and they had badly affected the club’s rivals.

Famous referees like the Italian Pierluigi Colina or the best referees of the Asian Football Confederation have not been able to avoid mistakes, Mui stressed.

When Thanh Nien suggested that clubs have invested lots of money and that the referees’ mistakes may destroy them, Mui said everyone must accept good and bad luck because it was a part of football.

Trung agreed with Mui, saying the referees were doing their best and could not be asked to do more.

However, Mui said referees have been told to concentrate more on their work; and Trung said they would ask the referees to try to avoid making mistakes.

Meanwhile, referee supervisor Doan Phu Tan has said they need to improve their skills and sharpness as players are getting cleverer in committing fouls.

Reported by Lan Phuong