It is good news that the V-League 2011 will have up to VND30 billion ($1.5 million) from only one sponsor Eximbank. But how will the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) spend the money?

VND30 billion is a huge number to the VFF. For this much, one can buy a 150sq.m villa in a new residential area in Hanoi or two villas in HCM City’s Phu My Hung.

In 2009, VFF got VND12 billion dong ($600,000) from a sponsor, PetroVietnam, and only VND6-8 billion dong five years ago. The question is whether money can make any changes in the V-League?

Thanks to Eximbank’s lavish sponsorship, the reward for the V-League champion will increase from VND1 billion ($50,000) to VND3 billion ($150,000). The second team will have VND1.5 billion and the third with VND750 million. In comparison with 2010, the reward will rise three folds and 4-5 times over 2009.

In 2011, the absurdity of rewards will be solved. Until now, the bonus for the country’s top football event has been always lower than the bonus of a single club for only one match.

For example, in 2009, the total bonus for the game between The Cong and Hai Phong Cement was VND1.5 billion. The Cong offered VND800 million if its players win the game while Hai Phong Cement offered VND700 million.

In 2008, Chair Doan Nguyen Duc of Hoang Anh Gia Lai offered a reward of VND1 billion if his team defeated Dong Tam Long An.

In the age of professional football, this is unacceptable and it is obvious that the only value V-League championship lies in its prestige/name.

Though the reward will increase, it is still modest compared to the investment in a football team, so many people still doubt the attractiveness of V-League.

Another matter in the V-League is the qualification of referees, which is also blamed on the shortage of money. Because of low salary and low reward, some referees were involved in match fixing and do extra jobs which affect their qualifications.

With VND30 billion from sponsor Eximbank, VFF will hopefully deal with this issue. The pay for referees will increase from VND1.2 million ($60)/match for a linesman and VND1.8 million ($90)/match for a key referee will increase to VND2 ($100) and VND3 million ($150) per match.

At least two things will change thanks to Eximbank’s money. However, money can’t solve other problems of V-League, which are not caused by money shortage.

PV