Vietnamese football and some 'worrying signs' ahead of the 2021 season.

Gia Dinh Club will remain in the Second Division.

The joy of promotion for coach Flavio Cruz and his team. Photo: Gia Dinh Football Club.

Coach Flavio Cruz and his team struggled to gain promotion, overcoming the People's Police Club in the play-off match of the 2020 National Second Division League. However, a few days ago, the Gia Dinh Club management issued a press release stating that they would not participate in the 2021 National First Division League because "the playing field does not meet the requirements and there are no youth training programs participating in national championships."

The decision of the Gia Dinh Club's management has surprised and disappointed football experts and fans in Vietnam. Even teams currently playing in the V.League, such as SLNA, Hai Phong, DNH Nam Dinh, and HL Ha Tinh, don't meet the criteria of professional football, yet they remain unscathed. Indeed, in the history of Vietnamese football, there has never been a case as strange as Gia Dinh Club.

Can Tho FC withdraws from the First Division?

Can Tho FC is looking for sponsors. Photo: VPF

At this point, the team from Can Tho is still in a state of disarray, like a snake without a head, after Can Tho Lottery Joint Stock Company announced its withdrawal as the main sponsor. Can Tho Lottery Club has been returned to the management of the Can Tho Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. According to our sources, the Can Tho Club has yet to find a new sponsor. The possibility of the "Green Boys" not participating in the 2021 National First Division League is quite clear.

What is happening at Can Tho FC is no longer an unprecedented event in Vietnamese football. In recent seasons, Can Tho FC has not received the same level of investment as when it first started.V.League(in 2015). It is very likely that Can Tho Club will "follow in the footsteps" of other teams in the Mekong Delta region such as Hung Vuong An Giang and Kien Long Bank Kien Giang.

Will Than Quang Ninh FC miss out on V.League?

What does the future hold for Than Quang Ninh FC? Photo: VPF

The most surprising case is that of the team from Quang Ninh. Despite being the "third-place finisher" in the 2020 National Cup and the "fourth-place finisher" in the 2020 V.League, Than Quang Ninh FC is facing an uncertain future. If the upcoming meeting between the Quang Ninh provincial leadership and the Than Quang Ninh FC management does not yield positive results, Nghiem Xuan Tu and his teammates will face the prospect of their team being disbanded.

The reality is that since the 2020 season officially ended, a number of players have packed their bags and left Cam Pha Stadium. Roughly speaking, over 10 players are no longer part of Than Quang Ninh for the upcoming season. Even head coach Phan Thanh Hung has submitted his resignation to the Than Quang Ninh club management and is awaiting a swift resolution. Hopefully, the team from the mining region will continue to participate in the V.League next year.

Not only are Can Tho FC and Than Quang Ninh FC facing financial difficulties, but so is Khanh Hoa FC, a team currently playing in the First Division. According to coach Vo Dinh Tan, the team based at the 19/8 Stadium has yet to find a new sponsor, following the withdrawal of Sanna. However, the leaders of Khanh Hoa province have pledged not to abandon the team.