Coaches continue to receive penalty cards
Round 13 of V.League 2024-2025 - the round of closing the first leg witnessed a rare number of big penalty cards for club coaches and officials.
Mr. Velizar Popov and Thanh Hoa's Technical Director Hoang Thanh Tung were fired from their job (2 yellow cards) at the end of the first half due to a reaction to the referee team, during the away match against Ho Chi Minh City at Thong Nhat Stadium. In the second half, 2 more assistants of Mr. Popov also received yellow cards.
On the same day of competition, coach Le Duc Tuan of Da Nang club was given a direct red card for similar actions in the match against The Cong Viettel at Tam Ky Stadium. Two days later, in the match between Binh Dinh and Hoang Anh Gia Lai, coach Bui Doan Quang Huy of the martial arts team was also given a card for being upset and overreactions to the referee.
In the dramatic 4-4 draw with Hanoi Police in Hang Day, coach Van Sy Son escaped the penalty card despite throwing a very strong drop of water and cards onto the field. Before the Hanoi Police team scored, a away team player was lying on the field after colliding with an opponent. Mr. Van Sy Son spoke at the press conference: "If referees just do like this, Vietnamese football will go down!".
After the match, the Head of the VFF Referee Board affirmed that the goal was checked by VAR technology. For this shot, Mr. Manh Hai coordinated with the VAR team before recognizing the goal and was noted to have made the right decision.
Open exchange
In the Premier League in the last 2 seasons, the position of PGMOL (England Referee Management Agency) has been mentioned a lot. They are willing to post statements about the right and wrong in the controversies surrounding the referee's decision.
On February 15, Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF) sent information about the VFF Referee Board's explanation of the controversial situations in the match between Ho Chi Minh City and Thanh Hoa in round 13 of V.League. In fact, this has been regularly implemented by the organizing committee in recent seasons. That is also a metaphorical way when controversies about referees are brought up by the media from many sides. In some cases, the Referee Board itself admits wrong decisions from specific individuals.
Or the case of Liverpool coach Arne Slot receiving a red card after the match against Everton. He has the right to appeal and remains on the board until a final disciplinary decision is issued. Midfielder Bruno Fernandes was given a direct red card in the first leg against Tottenham, when PGMOL determined the referee was wrong.
If Da Nang club proves that Mr. Le Duc Tuan has not insulted or insulted the referee; coach Velizar Popov really kicked a bottle of water into the cabin and only got angry with Thanh Long's student... the organizing committee and the refereeing committee also need to have specific opinions.
From the perspective of a coach when directing a team, they are easily dominated by emotional factors when the referee makes unconvincing decisions. But if he reacts excessively, the coach will certainly receive a penalty, as clearly stated in the Football Law.
In fact, there have been few frank exchanges between the two sides in consecutive seasons in the V.League. Coaches often borrow public press conferences after matches to criticize referees, regardless of whether the situation is right or wrong. This unintentionally tarnishes the image of the tournament.
