In the match between Hanoi Police and Becamex HCMC clubs at Binh Duong Stadium on the evening of August 24, assistant Luis Viegas reacted strongly to the referee. Immediately after referee Le Vu Linh showed a yellow card for warning, Mr. Luis Viegas continued to react and quickly ran into the tunnel to avoid receiving a red card.
According to the tournament organizers, the referee asked assistant Luis Viegas to return to the field to receive a second yellow card, but he did not comply, despite the intervention of other assistants in the team.
To continue the match, referee Le Vu Linh gave coach Mano Polking a yellow card. After that, coach Polking also performed a hand-clinching act towards the referee. In the 41st minute, midfielder Trung Hieu of Becamex HCMC received a second yellow card, forcing the home team to compete with 10 players.
The tournament organizing committee has sent a document proposing a handling direction to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), and it is likely that assistant Viegas will receive a penalty according to regulations. In the second half, Mr. Luis Viegas returned to the away team's technical area and there were no more incidents.
Coach Polking affirmed that reacting to the referee is not a team strategy. The match ended with a 3-0 victory for Hanoi Police.
VFF will consider and propose a form of handling suitable for the behavior of assistant Luis Viegas.
