Recently, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (VHTTDL) of Thanh Hoa has issued a document responding to the proposal to support funding and personnel from Dong A Thanh Hoa Football Co., Ltd.
Accordingly, this enterprise operates under the Enterprise Law and the Law on Physical Education and Sports, so there is no legal basis for state management agencies to provide financial and personnel support for organization and competition work.
Thanh Hoa Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposed that the club proactively mobilize legal socialized resources to maintain operations and sustainable development.
This move makes the future of the Thanh Hoa team even more precarious, in the context that the club's internal situation has been facing serious difficulties since the end of August 2025. The prosecution of the club president has created a large gap in both finance and management.
After this incident, many pillars of Thanh Hoa club have left the team, the salary fund is unbalanced, and the remuneration regime is no longer guaranteed. The current squad is narrowed, directly affecting professional quality.
According to the sharing of head coach Mai Xuan Hop, the force capable of playing only fluctuates around 11-14 players. The continuous rotation is almost impossible to implement.
Many players have to play in a condition where their fitness is not guaranteed, which may increase the risk of injury and reduce form. With a tournament that lasts as long as V.League, this is a matter of life and death.
What is happening at Thanh Hoa club evokes the story of Than Quang Ninh a few years ago. This is a typical example of the collapse of a professional club when the financial foundation is no longer guaranteed, despite having a period of stable development and good achievements.
In the period 2014-2020, Than Quang Ninh had a position in the V.League, regularly competing with the top group and once won the National Cup, National Super Cup in 2016.
A turning point appeared in 2020 when financial resources were no longer stable, and delays in paying salaries and bonuses began to occur. Financial issues were not resolved thoroughly but continued to extend to 2021.
At this time, the players and the leadership no longer had a common voice. Many players sent petitions, and the team collective refused to train and play because their rights were not guaranteed.
After the 2021 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 epidemic, the team was dissolved. Most players left in a condition where their contracts had not been fully liquidated.
The case of Than Quang Ninh shows the great risk of almost completely dependence on one sponsor. When cash flow is interrupted, the system immediately collapses. At this time, Thanh Hoa club is also facing a similar situation!
