The bargaining failed?

(Baonghean) - Throughout yesterday (August 20th), football fans continuously updated information online to see if the XMXT.Saigon team's leadership had sent a letter to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) announcing their withdrawal from the league as previously stated. Ultimately, by the end of the day, instead of sending a letter to the VFF, the team issued a press release announcing their withdrawal from the 2013 V.League national championship!

Following the disciplinary action of deducting 4 points from XMXT Saigon by the organizers, the Thuy brothers hinted at withdrawing from the league due to unfair treatment. Then, in the early afternoon of August 20th, coach Tran Tien Dai declared definitively: “XMXT.SG will not play in the last two rounds of the V.League; the team has withdrawn from the V-League. An official document will be sent to the organizers this afternoon, and journalists will also receive a press release from the team regarding this matter.”

This news caused a stir, with people saying one thing and another agreeing, and a lot of discussion about XMXT.Saigon withdrawing from the league. Those most concerned and worried were the fans from Nghe An province, because if the team owned by Mr. Thuy really withdrew, the results of all matches involving them would be annulled, meaning SLNA's two wins against XMXT.Saigon would also be meaningless, and SLNA would lose their chance to compete for the championship.

Chairman Thuy has announced his withdrawal from the V.League.

Not only will the Nghe An team's performance be affected, but XMXT.Saigon's withdrawal from the tournament will cause a series of other problems, leaving the organizers in a state of confusion.

Apparently anticipating this situation, yesterday, during a press conference, Mr. Nguyen Trong Hy, President of the VFF, advised XMXT.Saigon that their announcement to withdraw from the league was merely verbal. The VFF's stance is to advise XMXT.Saigon not to withdraw. If they feel wronged and disagree with the VFF Disciplinary Committee's decision, they can still follow the law and appeal to the VFF Appeals Committee. After that, if they still disagree, they can petition the VFF Executive Committee and ultimately the VFF Congress.

However, despite the "concession" from the VFF President, by late yesterday afternoon, the Thuy brothers still issued a "Press Release" announcing the withdrawal of XMXT.Saigon FC from the V.League national championship! This statement from XMXT.Saigon shocked even their own players, because according to reporters' observations, yesterday afternoon, Coach Tran Tien Dai's players were still training normally to prepare for the match against HAGL next Sunday. This could be a "tactic" in XMXT.Saigon's "bargaining," because the withdrawal announcement is only a press release; XMXT.Saigon FC has not yet sent any official document to the V.League organizing committee and the VFF!

The final outcome remains uncertain, but the behavior of XMXT.Saigon FC appears to show a lack of respect for the organizers and the erratic nature of this team, once known as the "rich kid." For many football fans, the existence of this "deceptive" team, XMXT.Saigon, has always been a source of annoyance due to the scandals it has generated through the antics of its coach, players, and owner. Therefore, the dissolution or transfer of ownership of this team is not surprising.

However, XMXT.Saigon's withdrawal from the league at this crucial moment will have unpredictable consequences for the V.League 2013 organizing committee. The immediate consequence is that SLNA will suffer the consequences of losing 6 points from their two wins against XMXT.Saigon and losing their chance in the championship race this season!

With the "Press Release" announcing XMXT.Saigon's withdrawal from the league, after 13 years of professional football, Vietnamese football still clearly reveals its amateurish nature, with the top league still being manipulated by business owners: they play when they feel like it, and withdraw when they don't!

Duc Dung