"Regarding FIFA's decision to discipline Phu Tho club: From the beginning of 2025, FIFA has requested Phu Tho club to provide information on a number of contents related to the competition activities of Phu Tho club, and at the same time requested VFF to support the exchange of this information to ensure progress.
The review and assessment of Phu Tho club's violations will be conducted independently by FIFA, according to FIFA regulations.
By May 2, 2025, FIFA had issued a decision to discipline Phu Tho club for being involved in the act of arranging scores in football matches and tournaments. Accordingly, Phu Tho club must compete in the national third division tournament in the next season," the report of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) to the Vietnam Sports Department clearly stated.
In the report, VFF said that immediately after receiving FIFA's disciplinary decision against Phu Tho club, VFF worked with the team, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Phu Tho province and related units to announce the contents according to FIFA's decision, and at the same time considered stopping Phu Tho club's participation in the 2025 National Second Division and notifying relevant units, continuing to handle related contents.
VFF also affirmed that this unit is determined to implement negative prevention in all football activities managed by VFF, continue to strengthen the direction of VFF departments and closely coordinate with units such as the Criminal Police Department (C02) - Ministry of Public Security, management agencies, and media to quickly detect and handle negative problems.
As Lao Dong reported, on 2.5/5, FIFA issued a notice to fine two lower-ranked clubs in Kenya and Vietnam for arranging the score. Phu Tho Club was expelled from the Vietnam Second Division Football Tournament and relegated to the third division.
Phu Tho Club will have 10 days to appeal the decision from FIFA. In the Second Division, this team is going through 3 consecutive losses since the beginning of the season. Phu Tho was relegated from the First Division in the 2023-2024 season after a poor performance, winning only 1, drawing 3 and losing 16 matches after 20 rounds.
