Vietnamese Football News 20/2: Leo Artur faces penalty, Dinh Bac does charity work.

Following the Lunar New Year holiday, Vietnamese football witnessed significant changes in both personnel and organization. The focus shifted to Hanoi Police FC (CAHN), with legal troubles arising from their failure in the Asian competition, and the early return of the top teams in the V-League standings.

Hanoi Police FC faces the risk of losing Leo Artur in the V-League.

The aftermath of their defeat against Tampines Rovers in the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 season continues to weigh heavily on Hanoi Police FC. Not only are they facing elimination, but the police force team is now grappling with a difficult personnel issue concerning their key foreign player, Leo Artur.

Specifically, the direct red card the striker received in the second leg in Singapore is being closely reviewed. According to the regulations of Vietnamese professional football, specifically Clause 6, Article 11, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has the authority to consider applying disciplinary actions from international tournaments to the domestic league system. If the VFF and VPF decide to apply this clause, Leo Artur risks being suspended when the V-League resumes.

Vietnamese football has no presence at continental competitions.

The journey of Vietnamese clubs in the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 has officially come to an end. CAHN's elimination in the Round of 16 marks an unsuccessful year for V-League representatives on the continental stage. Notably, the reasons for this failure stemmed not only from professional shortcomings but also from management errors.

In the round of 16, CAHN, despite being the team that advanced the furthest, suffered a heartbreaking defeat. The rare mistake that led to a 0-3 forfeit loss in the first leg due to the use of ineligible players serves as a costly lesson for club management when competing on the international stage.

The fierce comeback of The Cong Viettel and Nam Dinh

In contrast to the general holiday atmosphere, the two clubs, The Cong Viettel and Nam Dinh, officially resumed training on February 19th (the 3rd day of the Lunar New Year). These teams had the shortest break in this year's V-League to prepare for their important rescheduled match on February 24th at Hang Day Stadium.

Besides collective goals, individuals like Khuat Van Khang also expressed great determination for 2026. The midfielder, born in 2003, shared a dual objective: to strive for the highest achievements with The Cong Viettel and to save up to fulfill his dream of building a house to show filial piety to his parents. The professionalism of these young players is becoming a bright spot in the context of Vietnamese football needing new impetus.

Nguyen Dinh Bac's mark on philanthropy.

After completing his duties in the AFC tournament with CAHN, striker Nguyen Dinh Bac returned to his hometown of Hung Nguyen, Nghe An to enjoy a belated vacation. However, instead of just spending time with his family, the player quickly joined community activities.

On February 20th (the 4th day of the Lunar New Year), Dinh Bac is expected to participate in a local charity football match to raise funds. This is a major achievement for the young striker in the eyes of his hometown fans, demonstrating the social responsibility of football stars even during holidays.

Movement on the coaching bench

In the area of ​​youth development, Becamex Ho Chi Minh City FC has taken a significant step in its restructuring plan. The club officially appointed Coach Hua Hien Vinh as the head coach of the U15 team on February 20th. With extensive experience in nurturing young talents, Coach Vinh is expected to help the team from the Southeast region regain its position in youth development, which is a solid foundation for the club's future growth.