Hoa Phat Hanoi Football Club may be punished following their reaction to several refereeing decisions and a claim that they may leave the country’s top V-League division in disgust.

Referee Tran Cong Trong faces strong oppositions from Hoa Phat Hanoi team

Oppositions to the referee’s decision

During the August 2, 2-1 away defeat against Vicem Haiphong at Lach Tray Stadium, the Hanoi team turned on referee Tran Cong Trong after he red carded Hoa Phat full-back Dinh Hung.

After the match, the entire Hoa Phat squad and management board surrounded assistant referee Nguyen Van Quyet. They also expressed their concern directly to Chairman of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Nguyen Trong Hy who was present at the match, claiming that they would withdraw from the V-League if the VFF did not review the referee’s biased decisions.

Hoa Phat Hanoi Coach Nguyen Thanh Vinh said, “The referee continuously penalised us and ignored everything Haiphong did. Trong was biased, I was very disappointed and if this isn’t resolved, I’m resigning from football.”

Fines proposed

The V- League organising board and the National Referee Council by August 3 had yet to issue any official statement on the incident, claiming they were collecting footage of the match for a closer review.

However, based on the report released by referee group supervisor Nguyen Trong Thao, the National Referee Council’s Chairman Nguyen Van Mui said that the referee and his assistants had done well.

“Based on the report, I think that Tran Cong Trong did perfectly well, and was right in his issuing of cards for fouls by both teams. After viewing the tapes, the council will look at the specific incidents and reach an official conclusion.”

The council will strictly deal with a referee if he is found to have violated the laws, but Hoa Phat Hanoi’s behaviour was unacceptable, he said. Many teams blame referees out of habit, Hy added.

The chairman has proposed fines for Coach Nguyen Thanh Vinh and the Hoa Phat players involved as a deterrent.

The VFF and the tournament’s organising board have yet to issue any comments on the dispute, saying that resolution of the incident belongs with the National Referee Council.

While waiting for the council’s official conclusion, Coach Vinh said the team had lodged a complaint against the refereeing of Round 23 of the V-League.