Minh Hung of Dong Thap was tackled by Hai Phong goalie Tuan Diep but referee Trong Thu ruled it was not a foul, infuriating Dong Thap fans

It took referee Nguyen Trong Thu and his assistants more than an hour to leave Cao Lanh Stadium after home team Dong Thap lost to Hai Phong by a solitary goal.

Hai Phong took the lead after four minutes when Elendino de Jesus scored from a penalty kick after Minh Triet of Dong Thap tackled him in the penalty area.

After the goal, the visitors slowed down the speed and tried to retain possession of the ball for as long as possible and kill the time.

Thu issued no card to any Hai Phong player despite rough play, infuriating Dong Thap players who began to lose their cool.

In the 83rd minute, Dong Thap’s Samson Olaleye collided with Bat Hieu of Hai Phong and Samson hit Hieu, and got sent off with a red card. Anjembe Timothy rushed up and pushed the referee in protest, receiving a second yellow card.

Despite being short of two players, Dong Thap continued to play well. In the 94th minute, Minh Hung of Dong Thap was tackled by Hai Phong goalie Tuan Diep in the penalty area but the referee ruled that it was not a foul. Enraged home fans booed the referee.

After the match, home players and some of the coaching staff surrounded the referee to protest. Fans kept throwing objects from the stands. Security guards had a hard time keeping order at the stadium.

The waves of protest were so strong that the referee couldn’t leave the stadium after the match. It took the security forces more than an hour to escort the referee group out of the Mekong Delta stadium and they left for Ho Chi Minh City immediately.

Deputy Director Pham Duy Tien of Dong Thap Province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said, “Dong Thap supporters have never been so angry with a referee before. Dong Thap have sometimes lost at home but everything was in order.

“This time, the referee made the fans very angry. We accept a defeat if it is fair. But it is not the case here.”

Referee supervisor Bui Nhu Duc said he has recorded all the details of the match. He would write a report to the league organizers and the referee council will consider the matter.

With the loss, Dong Thap slipped one place to third as Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) took its second place after a 2-0 home win over former league champs Hoang Anh Gia Lai at Vinh Stadium. Hai Phong climbed one place to ninth.

In other matches, league leaders Da Nang continued to make strong moves toward the title with a 2-1 home victory over bottom-placed Thanh Hoa. Da Nang now has 42 points, 12 points clear of second-placed SLNA.

Defending champs Binh Duong were held to a 1-1 home draw by 2005- 06 champs Dong Tam Long An and is in fourth place with 28 points. Khanh Hoa defeated The Cong 3-0 and is in fifth.

Nam Dinh crushed the Fourth Military Zone 6-1 and jumped to 1 1th place, pushing their rivals one place down to the 13th place while T&T Hanoi thrashed HCMC Club 5-1 to stay in the middle of the table. HCMC Club stayed in the 12th spot despite the defeat.

Reported by Thanh Nien staff