According to the assessment, 2024 is a "successful" period for Vietnamese referees from an international perspective. Because organizations from the World Football Federation (FIFA), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to the Southeast Asian Football Federation (AFF) have all summoned - from male to female referees from Vietnam to officiate at international tournaments.
It is considered that this is the result of the efforts to improve the quality of referee training of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), as well as the efforts of each referee. Not only that, Vietnamese referees and supervisors also participate in training courses of FIFA and AFC. VFF and Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VFP) organize training for supervisors and referees, inspections and assessments of preparation work...
Training is being stepped up and of course, with so many positive points, one would be happy to imagine that the domestic tournament also ensures high quality referees. However, the reality is not exactly like that.
With the efforts of individual referees, with the support of VAR, matches in V.League have more tools to aim for the goal of ensuring maximum fairness and transparency. However, there are still mistakes, problems, and controversial situations that are difficult to understand, leading to negative reactions, even doubts.
Notably, after only 9 rounds of the 2024-2025 V.League season, Quang Nam Club angrily sent a letter to the VFF, citing 3 situations in 3 matches with Hong Linh Ha Tinh (0-0 draw), Binh Dinh (0-1 loss), Song Lam Nghe An (1-1 draw) and concluded that the referee was "systematically wrong". Quang Nam Club has long considered itself a "poor team" - understood as being easily oppressed.
Of course, people know that the story of rich and poor is just to “add salt” or “highlight” the problem. And although every football tournament has arguments about referees, and in some places the mistakes are even more serious, when “internal matters” are not properly resolved, the beautiful images outside will lose some of their value.
