Midfielder Le Tan Tai (L) was involved in a pubic altercation with a teammate earlier this week

Khanh Hoa club footballers quarreled on the streets of Nha Trang Friday night.

Tai was waiting outside the restaurant, calling a friend for a ride home, when Son began taunting him.

“You don’t need to ask for a ride. I can lend you some money for a taxi,” said Son.

Tai got angry and both players began shouting epithets at each other. Fans of the club wanted to protect Tai, one of the stars of Vietnam’s AFF championship victory last year.

One fan who witnessed the scene said he wanted to “teach Son a good lesson.”

The club managers, including Chairman Le Tien Anh, rushed to break up the argument.

Anh said Tai and Son had long-standing grudges against each other.

Tai admitted that he had behaved badly and said he would submit his part of a report about the incident today before the club issued punishment against the two athletes.

But several fans said his squeaky clean image had been tarnished.

Reported by Quang Tuyen