Sports & Entertainment
Huge bans for players that opposed controversial referee decision
  • | dtinews.vn | February 22, 2017 04:57 PM
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The captain and goalkeeper of Long An FC said they may retire following the imposition of two-year bans by the governing Vietnam Football Federation following a refereeing dispute in a recent match with HCM City FC.

Vietnam Football Federation said on February 21 that they would suspend Long An FC's captain Quang Thanh and goalkeeper Minh Nhut for two years from all tournaments. The club's chairman Vo Thanh Nhiem was also suspended from participating in club management three years and the coach Ngo Quang Sang was suspended for two years.

Thanh and Nhut expressed surprise at the punishment, saying the decision was far too severe. Thanh said, "I didn't think the punishment would be that strict. I'm not the one who initiated the protest, I just reacted like everyone else."

   

Goalkeeper Minh Nhut of Long An FC

The 33-year-old player said he would protest against the punishment. If he is suspended for two years, he'd rather resign and go and work for his family business because he would be too old by the time he is allowed to play again.

Goalkeeper Minh Nhut is 31 years old and also thinks that the punishment will put an end to his current career. "It's too severe. I play to earn money to take care of my family but everything seems finished now. Maybe I need to retire," he said.

On February 19, Long An FC lost 5-2 to HCM City FC after a controversial 80th-minute penalty decision by referee Nguyen Trong Thu. Long An's players walked off the field in protest, only later returning to the field, but refusing to play properly. The subsequent penalty was scored with the Long An goalkeeper facing away from the penalty-taker.

Head of the V-League organising board, Nguyen Minh Ngoc said they would have strict punishment for Long An FC.

Long An FC's chairman, Vo Thanh Nhien backed his team and said he would ask the criminal police department to investigate the referee Nguyen Trong Thu.

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