Audiences have been forced to witness fights between footballers, players and referees, and hooligans in football stands. The Vietnam Football Federation chairman talked about this alarming trend.

Recently, audiences have been forced to witness fights between footballers, players and referees, and hooligans in football stands. The Vietnam Football Federation’s (VFF) chairman Nguyen Trong Hy talked with Tien Phong about this alarming trend.

Hai Phong hooligans in Hanoi

Hy said: “Vietnam’s football is on the way to become professional so we need to appreciate the local football by the eyes of Vietnamese. We can’t compare our football with the football of developed countries”.

“At some matches, for example Megastar Nam Dinh v.s Dong Tam Long An, both teams wanted to win so they played in hot temper. It is ordinary in football,” Hy added.

However, the public said that VFF must take responsibility for the recent violence cases. What can you say about this?

VFF has tried at its best. For example, in the Hai Phong Cement – Hoa Phat Hanoi game, the V-League organizing board and I met with the two teams to make a plan to ensure security for that match. We were very worried because if violence occurred, it could be potentially spiral out of control. In my opinion, the VFF has fulfilled its responsibility.

In a match, it is the duty of referees to make decisions. If referees make bad calls, the VFF would have to assume some responsibility. But in the match between Megastar Nam Dinh and Dong Tam Long An, it is clear that referee Ngo Quoc Hung did his job very well. Do you blame the VFF?

But football violence is on the rise, especially fights between players. How can you explain about it?

VFF’s situation is a tough one. But VFF only undertakes organizing tasks and we can’t help our members to manage and educate players.

How can you explain for the comment that VFF’s measures are not strong enough to deter playing from committing football violence?

It is important to approach recent football violence cases from different angles. Though, it was terrible when fans of Hai Phong Cement club threw bottles and hard items onto the field in the match against Hoa Phat Hanoi in Lach Tray stadium, there were no serious consequences and no one was injured.

Moreover, the stadium organizing board ensured that fans and players of both teams exited the stadium safely. They organized a public campaign about football violence in anticipation of the match and they mobilized nearly 1600 policemen.

There are many forms of penalties, including closing the stadium. Though in Vietnam, heavy penalties are not helpful sometimes. We must acknowledge that they had forethought and exerted themselves. It is no good to anyone if we punish them excessively.

VFF Disciplinary Board makes its decisions based on reports from managers of stadiums and match supervisors. Are you sure that these reports are correct?

They have to be responsible for the accuracy of reports. All matches are broadcasted on television.

In recent violence cases, the decisions of the VFF Disciplinary Board and the VFF Complaint Settlement Board are different. Is it a problem?

Each person at each position has different views. VFF’s stand is the two boards are independent from each other and many members are lawyers. We have to recognize their decisions.

Source: Tien Phong