On November 23, at Hang Day Stadium, the Capital derby between Hanoi Police Club and The Cong Viettel will take place in the round of 16 of the 2025-2026 National Cup. The match is considered the focus of the 1/8 round of this tournament.
To ensure fairness, transparency and enhance the professional reputation of the match, Viettel Sports Company sent an official dispatch to Vietnam Professional Football Supplement Company (VPF), proposing to invite foreign referees to officiate the match.
According to the document, the use of foreign referees will contribute to creating positive public opinion, enhancing the professional image of the tournament in the eyes of domestic and international fans and media.
This is the second time The Cong Viettel has proposed a foreign referee plan for important matches. Previously, in round 6 against Ninh Binh, the same proposal of the army team was not approved by VPF and the match was controlled by a domestic referee team, ending in a 1-1 draw.
This season, The Cong Viettel set a high target in the V.League, however, under the leadership of coach Velizar Popov, the team has not played really stably.
After 10 rounds, Mr. Popov and his team are ranked fourth with 19 points, 8 points behind the leader Ninh Binh. The opportunity to compete for the championship is still there, but the challenge is huge.
The match against Hanoi Police not only determines the ability to go far in the National Cup but also directly affects the spirit and strategy of The Cong Viettel in the rest of the season. A victory will open up the opportunity to go deeper, while a defeat will leave the team with only V.League to aim for the title.
