VietNamNet Bridge – Saigon United claims that the Vietnam Football Federation’s decision to demote Quang Ngai to the Second Division is unfair and harms their team as well.

Coach Van Sy Hung and players of the Saigon United club.

Quang Ngai’s demotion means that some of their victories are not recognized, Saigon United (SU) claims, leading to a loss of points that downgrades their team to the Second Division Tournament.

In SU’s 22^nd First Division match this season, referee Kieu Viet Hung awarded Saigon United a short penalty kick because of a foul by Quang Ngai in the penalty area. Quang Ngai then protested the referee’s decision by quitting at the 70^th minute.

The Quang Ngai squad has punished by demotion to the Second Division and the First Division Tournament’s organizing board does not recognize the results of Quang Ngai’s matches.

This decision affected the teams that played Quang Ngai, especially SU. In the first-leg match, SU defeated Quang Ngai and in the second-leg match, the score at the 70^th minute was 2-1 favoring SU.

SU asserts that the decision caused them to lose six points, leading to its own fall to the Second Division. They complained to VFF, but the federation has not replied.

SU Managing Director Ho Thanh Hai criticized First Division Tournament Vice-Chief Duong Nghiep Khoi for not referring his club’s complaint to the VFF’s Complaint Settlement Department.

Hai also threatened to bring the case before the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS).

The VFF’s top officials - VFF Chairman Nguyen Trong Hy, VFF Secretary General Tran Quoc Tuan and Disciplinary Department Chief Nguyen Hai Huong – said that the penalty imposed on Quang Ngai is based on Vietnam’s rules on professional and non-professional football. The rules were approved by all football clubs and therefore, he remarked, SU’s complaints are groundless.

VietNamNet/VNE