Several days after the scandal related to goalkeeper Duong Hong Son, another one happened with another member of the national squad, Le Tan Tai, who hired gangsters to threaten his teammate on Khanh Hoa club.

Halfback Tan Tai.

The case happened on April 3 in Nha Trang city, the central province of Khanh Hoa. While all members of Khanh Hoa club were having dinner at a restaurant on Hoang Van Thu street, four men holding knives entered the restaurant looking for Khanh Hoa’s reserve goalkeeper Dao Minh Son.

Thanks to the assistance of teammates and local people, the gangsters couldn’t approach Son. However, they waited for the goalkeeper outside the restaurant until the mobile police came.

It turned out that the four men with knives had been hired by halfback Le Tan Tai. The case originated from a joke.

When Tan Tan called his friend to come to pick him up, Minh Son teased Tan Tai: “Why do you need a lift when you are a star. At least you should ride in a cab. If you don’t have money, I can lend it to you.”

At that time, Tan Tai was very angry and attempted to beat Minh Son but they were separated by their teammates. But Tan Tai made a phone call and the four strange men appeared.

According to witnesses, who are local residents, the four men are “popular” gangsters in Nha Trang.

Le Tan Tai, 25, is a half-back of the national squad. He was the Best young player 2005, the Bronze Ball winner 2005 and 2006.

At an urgent meeting of Khanh Hoa club on April 3 night, Tan Tan admitted that he called the four strange men, saying they were his neighbours, not gangsters. He met Minh Son to apologise.

Khanh Hoa club’s managers only gave a warning to both Tan Tai and Minh Son, and suspended Tan Tai from the match against SHB Da Nang on April 4.

The club announced that if similar cases happen, violators will be fined three months’ salary and have to practice with the young team for one month.

The Vietnam Football Federation’s Chairman Nguyen Trong Hy said the federation will strictly penalise Tan Tai to prevent similar cases in the future. Hy asked Khanh Hoa club to explain the case.

“This is the black side of professional football. Football clubs attach more importance to achievements than footballers’ morals. A player may be fired by a club for violating the rules, but he will be immediately welcomed by other clubs,” said VFF Discipline Division Chief Nguyen Hai Huong.

Meanwhile, the chief coach of the national team, Henrique Calisto, said that like Hong Son, this case is Tan Tai’s personal thing so he has no idea about it.

PV