V-League violence returns: VFF, VPF hold urgent meeting with referee board, demand strict enforcement

Within a short period, Vietnamese football has had to face a worrying reality: on-field violence is showing signs of returning. The beautiful image of the V-League is being eroded by dangerous tackles, cynical kicks, and controversial refereeing decisions. The focus of criticism in recent days has been the match between Dong Nai FC and Hanoi Police FC (CAHN) on September 20. On the pitch, Dong Nai defender Le Van Son elbowed CAHN striker Nguyen Dinh Bac in the face. Then Dong Nai centre-back Huynh Tan Sinh twice aimed at Bac's legs with cynical tackles from behind. These incidents were clearly captured by cameras and quickly spread on social media. What made the public even more angry was the handling of referee Le Vu Linh. In the situation where Huynh Tan Sinh committed a violent foul, the main referee only showed a yellow card instead of sending him off. According to many experts, this was a clear red-card situation, as the action was not directed at the ball but deliberately endangered the opponent. Showing only a yellow card was not just a legal error but also set a bad precedent for upcoming matches. Shortly before this match, the V-League 2026-2027 season had already witnessed two other serious violent incidents in round 2. CAHN centre-back Doan Van Hau broke the leg of The Cong Viettel midfielder Doan Ngoc Tan. In the same round, Nam Dinh foreign player Ezeqiuel Santos Da Silva stamped on the stomach of SHB Da Nang player Vo Huu Viet Hoang. Both incidents infuriated fans and raised questions about professionalism and player safety on Vietnamese pitches. Under pressure from public opinion, representatives of the V-League organizing committee, VPF, and the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) held a direct meeting with the VFF Referee Board. The meeting took place amid the risk of recurring on-field violence threatening the league's image. During the meeting, leaders from all sides emphasized that referees must apply the laws correctly, maintain discipline, and prevent rough play. The phrase “apply the laws correctly” is widely understood as not allowing missed fouls or missed cards. In other words, referees must be strong and decisive enough to punish every violation, regardless of the player's reputation or the importance of the match. If referees fail to do their job, disciplinary regulations become meaningless. The Dong Nai versus CAHN match proved that referees have not fully fulfilled their responsibility. In the situation where Huynh Tan Sinh committed a cynical foul on Dinh Bac, referee Le Vu Linh did not show a red card. This was a major mistake, because even from replays, anyone could see that it was an intentional act likely to cause injury, not a normal challenge for the ball. Former VFF Vice President for professional football and former head of the VFF Referee Board Duong Vu Lam did not hesitate to criticize Le Vu Linh's decision. Speaking to Dan Tri reporters after the match, he said: “Referee Le Vu Linh missed a card in this incident. Huynh Tan Sinh's cynical foul was too obvious, but he was not sent off.” Duong Vu Lam also stressed that if Huynh Tan Sinh is suspended after a post-match review, then referee Le Vu Linh should be dealt with in the same way. According to him, if a referee fails to recognize an obvious red-card situation, or recognizes it but does not dare to make the call, the fault belongs to the main referee. He also raised the issue of VAR responsibility in this match. Specifically, the VAR team for the Dong Nai and CAHN match consisted of referees Vo Hoai Thuong and Nguyen Thanh Son. If they advised main referee Le Vu Linh to use a red card but were overruled, then the VAR team had completed its task. On the contrary, if the VAR team gave no advice about using a red card, then the VAR referees should also be punished. This assessment points to a systemic problem: not only the main referee but also the VAR team must be held accountable for wrong decisions. In modern football, video assistant referee technology was introduced to reduce mistakes, but if the people operating the technology lack responsibility, the value of VAR is almost neutralized. Regarding disciplinary measures for referees, Duong Vu Lam said that such punishments are usually not announced publicly. However, fans and the media can still detect them by looking at referee appointments in the following rounds. If a referee does not appear in matches immediately after an incident, there is a high chance he has been suspended. This is a characteristic of Vietnamese football, where referee discipline is often handled quietly to avoid prolonged controversy. But this lack of transparency sometimes makes the public doubt the effectiveness of disciplinary measures. Are the offending referees actually punished, or are they quietly reassigned? The story of violence in the V-League is not new. Over many seasons, teams have played aggressively to gain advantages. But violent incidents have rarely occurred so frequently in such a short period. This reflects the pressure of results, the lack of emotional control among players, and the weaknesses of the refereeing system. The fact that VFF, VPF and the organizing committee sat down with the Referee Board is a positive signal. It shows that governing bodies take the problem seriously and are ready to act. However, preventing violence on the pitch requires more than an urgent meeting. Strong sanctions, consistency among referees, and a change in the playing culture of every player are all necessary. One notable detail in recent incidents is that many dangerous challenges came from well-known players, even national team regulars. This shows that the problem is not about ability but about attitude. If they are not corrected early, they could carry this bad habit to international competitions and affect the image of Vietnamese football. Besides discipline, the media also needs to reflect the true nature of the events. Replays, legal analysis and pointing out refereeing mistakes are necessary, but more importantly, they create pressure that forces those involved to act. The coming matches will be a test. If dangerous tackles continue and referees still ignore them, all promises of reform are just empty words. Clubs must also take responsibility for educating their players. A club that allows its players to commit violent acts on the pitch not only loses respect from fans but may also face heavy punishments. Club discipline should not be limited to administrative fines, but should include measures to correct player behavior. Looking back at the whole situation, on-field violence does not happen by itself. It comes from anger, from a habit of aggressive play, from indecisive refereeing, and from the silence of those in charge. To change things, it is necessary to deal with the root causes. A timely red card can save a player from injury, and a strict suspension can save an entire league. The V-League 2026-2027 season has just begun, but the first scratches have already appeared. This is the time for VFF, VPF, clubs and referees to show their responsibility. Fans will still come to the stadium and cheer, but they have the right to demand a safe and healthy football environment. Applying the rules correctly, strictly and immediately is the only way to protect the league.