AFC imposes heavy fine, lesson for VFF

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has just decided to fine the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) 10,000 USD for allowing fans to set off flares during the match between Vietnam and Cambodia in the 2-1 qualifying round of the 2019 Asian Cup.

Vietnamese fans set off flares at the Cambodian stadium.

As predicted by Thanh Nien, AFC has decided to fine VFF 10,000 USD because Vietnamese fans set off flares at the Cambodian National Stadium. At the same time, AFC has warned that if VFF allows Vietnamese fans to repeat the offense in international matches, they will be punished more severely.

The AFC's punishment not only causes VFF to lose money but also its reputation and image in the international arena.

For this incident to happen, it is clear that VFF has not fulfilled its responsibilities. First of all, VFF has never connected with football fan associations in Vietnam to remind, warn, and propagate to make them aware that lighting flares on the field is a violation of FIFA and AFC regulations.

In addition, the VFF Disciplinary Board also punished fans too leniently when they set off flares on the field in domestic tournaments, so they became immune to the medicine.

I think VFF needs to have heavier penalties, even banning fans from going to the stadium if they violate the rules for the second time when coming to the stadium to watch football. If member football federations let their fan clubs light flares, they also need to be severely punished so that they can play their role, reminding local fan clubs to behave civilly and responsibly when watching football.

For their part, the extremist fans also need to review their own actions. Because they are known as Vietnamese football fans, going abroad to cheer for the Vietnamese team, but leaving an ugly image, affecting the reputation of Vietnamese football in the international arena.

According to TNO