In the 61st minute of the first leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 semi-final between Malaysia and Vietnam, goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang was shown a direct red card by the referee after rushing out of the penalty area to block a Malaysian player.
However, only 2 minutes later, the decision was changed. The referee checked the VAR and determined that the situation was not sufficient basis to maintain the red card for Le Giang.
Talking to Lao Dong, a FIFA-level Vietnamese referee said that the referee's initial decision may stem from two ways of judgment.
First, the referee may have determined that this was a clear scoring opportunity obstruction (DOGSO). If Le Giang had not intervened, the Malaysian player would have been able to get past the goalkeeper and face a very clear scoring opportunity. This is the basis for the referee to issue a red card right on the field.
Second, the referee may have determined that Le Giang committed a particularly serious foul. The referee's viewing angle was unfavorable and part of the situation was obscured by Van Vi. Therefore, the main referee may have misunderstood that Le Giang kicked straight into the shin of the Malaysian player.
If the situation is really determined in this direction, a red card may also appear.
However, after VAR intervention, both possibilities are no longer grounded.
With DOGSO errors, there are 4 factors to consider including directing the ball towards the goal; number and position of defenders; ball control ability of attacking players; distance to the goal.
In this situation, the Malaysian player did not control the ball completely. More importantly, Van Vi still appeared in the play and actively played the ball, even touching the ball. Thus, the Malaysian striker did not fully meet the conditions to determine that this was a clear scoring opportunity that was prevented," this referee said.
According to the FIFA-level referee, if considering the DOGSO factor separately, this situation lacks at least 2 of the 4 important criteria: the ball control ability of the attacking player and the number and position of the defensive player.
As for the particularly serious mistake, the VAR image shows that the level of collision between goalkeeper Le Giang and the Malaysian player is not commensurate with a behavior that must receive a red card. The Vietnamese goalkeeper did not have a direct kick with strong force but mainly a collision occurred, grazing the opponent's leg.
Therefore, after reviewing the entire situation, the referee removed the red card for Le Giang Patrik. This decision helped the Vietnamese team continue to play with enough troops and avoid a major disadvantage.
In the remainder of the match, the overseas Vietnamese goalkeeper played very well with reflexive dives to save the defending champion. In the end, coach Kim Sang-sik's team won 2-0 against Malaysia right on the away field.
