Many football stars said goodbye to V-League, the top national professional championship, to join clubs that play at the First Division Tournament (the second-class football tournament in Vietnam). Why?

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Up to a half of the national football squad have become members of Xuan Thanh Saigon, a new football club in HCM City, which plays in the First Division Tournament. Many more famous players are about to join.

 

It is not unusual for football players to move from a club to another. But it is a sad fact that many football stars have said goodbye to the V-League to play for Xuan Thanh Saigon at the First Division Tournament, not because the First Division Tournament is better, but because it pays higher.

In Vietnam, football businesses always claim losses but many businessmen have invested in football and becoame famous. It is very easy to set up a new football team. The quality of the team depends on the money that the owners pay.

The involvement of businessmen in football has changed professional football in Vietnam, with Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Vissai Ninh Binh, Hoa Phat Hanoi as typical examples. This year, Xuan Thanh Saigon will become the “hottest” name, though it is only a First Division club.

Ten years after Vietnam professionalized its football to catch up with the world, the First Division Tournament, the second-class football tournament in Vietnam, has become more “valuable” than the V-League thanks to a rich businessman.

Vietnamese players don’t care about V-League or First Division, they only care about the money.

Who will take care of Vietnam football?

PV