The Vietnam Football Federation has decided to suspend Cong Vinh for six matches and impose a VND10 million fine. This is the price of Vinh’s controversial action at a match on Sunday.

After a 3-hour meeting, the VFF’s Disciplinary Board concluded that referee Vu Bao Linh and his assistants made no mistakes, based on a video tape of the match. The board stated that Cong Vinh’s act is a serious violation of the morals of professional football.

The board decided to suspend the striker for six matches and levy a 10 million dong fine on him. This is the highest penalty for this kind of mistake, though Cong Vinh apologized just one day after the case.

VFF Disciplinary Board Chief, Nguyen Hai Huong, emphasized: “Vinh’s act was very bad, especially as it was made by the captain of T&T and a star of the national squad. It is unacceptable!”

Nguyen Van Mui, Chair of the National Referee Council, also agreed that Cong Vinh’s action was unacceptable and offensive to Vietnamese referees. He refused to comment about the penalty on Vinh, only saying that Vinh’s act deserves a red card, not a yellow card.

Cong Vinh and his club, T&T Hanoi, have the right to lodge a complaint about VFF’s decision within three days. Hanoi T&T Chair Nguyen Quoc Hoi revealed that the club has no plans to complain. T&T Hanoi may also fine him by not giving him a bonus or paying his salary for March. Cong Vinh may also lose his title as captain.

The absence of Cong Vinh will be a big loss for T&T Hanoi as they seek to win the V-League championship. After six matches, T&T Hanoi and Da Nang are now at the top, with 12 points each.

Meanwhile, Cong Vinh is shocked by the VFF’s decision. “Prostrating myself before referee Vu Bao Linh was a bad act. I’m completely wrong, so I’m willing to suffer a penalty. But I’m really shocked that I’m banned from six matches,” Vinh stated.

He added that many players at leading football events in the world have vehemently protested against referees, but none have been suspended for six matches.

“I don’t think that I should have to suffer that fine, because my actions were spontaneous at a moment when I couldn’t control myself. I didn’t intend to offend anyone,” he complained.

“I’ve never been under such a great pressure like now. Perhaps I will lodge an appeal with the VFF tomorrow,” Vinh speculated on March 23.

Last football season, Nam Dinh club’s Hoang Danh Ngoc was suspended for six matches and had to pay fine for showing his “dirty thumb” to The Cong club’s fans. Previously Huy Hoang from Song Lam Nghe An club was suspended for two matches for prostrating himself before a referee at V-League 2006.

PV