Coach Falko Goetz

The VFF make the proposal on December 22, placing responsibility for the team’s loss squarely on German Coach Falko Goetz. All VFF members agreed to end his contract. 

However, the federation still agreed to keep Tran Quoc Tuan as the federation’s General Secretary, despite public pressure and his resignation letter after the team’s loss at the SEAGames.

The deputy head of the national fan association sent a letter urging Tuan to resign.

In his resignation letter, Tuan wrote that he preferred to return to his former work at the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, or the Institute of Sports Sciences.

The VFF, however, did not accept Tuan’s resignation during the meeting and proposed firing Falko Goetz, explaining that the team’s failure is mainly the fault of the head coach. 

Le The Tho, Vice Chairman of the National Coaching council, said, it would not be correct to keep Tuan’s post and dismiss Falko Goetz. In 2009, Tuan was directly appointed by VFF Chairman as the VFF General Secretary and not through a vote by members of executive board. However, voting was used to retain Tuan at his post.

At a meeting to analyse the disappointing performance of U23 failure at SEAGames, held on November 28, many leaders of the VFF agreed that the head coach should be given another chance, but, Tho said, he was still blamed for the loss.

The council does not have the right to fire Falko Goetz. It only participated in considering dossiers of candidates who applied for the position. The VFF was responsible for the selection and signing contracts with the coach.

Goetz signed a three-year contract with the VFF in April, 2011. If the VFF terminated his contract, Goetz would receive a considerable amount in compensation.

Currently Goetz is on holiday with his famliy in Germany. He showed some surprise upon learning of the meeting to consider his dismissal. But he has yet to comment, as he has not received the official decision. He still plans to return Hanoi on January 4, to work with the VFF.

VFF General Secretary Tran Quoc Tuan and Falko Goetz at the contract signing ceremony in April