>> Football team chairman denounces V-League shortcomings
>> Hanoi ACB cheats relegation with capital merger
>> Hanoi football team hints at merger to avoid relegation
Vietnam’s top football division – the V-League is facing a major crisis as a range of clubs have come out in support of controversial Hanoi ACB Chairman Nguyen Duc Kien’s proposal to establish a break-away Super Liga.
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Hanoi ACB Chairman Nguyen Duc Kien at the meeting to review the 2011 V-League |
Kien made his proposal at a recent meeting to review the 2011 V-League season where he spoke out about a series of problems facing Vietnam’s top division.
Kien said the break-away Super Liga, could comprise of six to seven clubs and offer what he described as a fair football environment.
Doan Nguyen Duc, Chairman of Hoang Anh Gia Lai said, “I support Kien’s suggestion. The quality of V-League has been on the decline due to poor refereeing and bad management. If the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) does not take actions to improve the situation, more football investors will consider withdrawing from the tournament.”
Duc said the VFF should deal with its shortcomings to regain the confidence of club owners and fans alike, because no team wanted to establish a separate tournament.
Chairman of Vissai Ninh Binh Hoang Manh Truong also agreed with Duc, saying that, “I don’t mind investing in my club, as long as we have a clean football environment.”
He also voiced his disappointment at the standard of refereeing and administration of the V-League. “If no improvements are made, we believe it is necessary to form a Super Liga. Football is about a fair playing field so everything should be transparent.”
Former VFF officials have warned clubs that they should carefully consider before making a hasty decision to form a separate league.
Ngo Tu Ha, Former Head of V-League organising board during 1997-2011 period, said clubs should keep remain calm and wait for the VFF to deal with its shortcomings.
According to Vice Chairman of VFF Pham Ngoc Vien, establishing a new league would require huge work in terms of organising the tournament and developing a group of referees. “The suggestion to create a Super Liga mostly originates from Mr Kien. Clubs should contribute their opinions to the VFF to avoid any hasty decisions.”
Clubs are expecting a major shift in the VFF’s operations and the threat of a potential Super Liga may well be a tactic to express their desire for a clean-up of the murky world of match fixing and bribery that dogs Vietnamese football.
Hanoi ACB Nguyen Duc Kien criticised V-League organisers at an end of season review meeting. He claimed that former capital rivals Hoa Phat Hanoi had decided to liquidate the club due to losing confidence in V-League administrators. Vice Chairman of the VFF Le Hung Dung also voiced his disappointment at the federation. He also proposed the council impose lifetime bans on referees Tran Cong Trong and Nguyen Van Quyet who were involved in controversial decisions in several matches. |