Hanoi escapes 'stadium suspension' over Hai Phong fans lighting flares

"The new complaint settlement board sent a document to Hanoi FC. We were not suspended for one match but still had to pay a fine of 70 million VND," Hanoi FC Deputy Director Nguyen Quoc Tuan shared withVnExpress.

Previously, the Disciplinary Board imposed a one-match suspension on Hanoi due to Hai Phong fans lighting flares in the stands and throwing them onto the field in round 6 of V-League 2019 on April 21. In addition, the capital team and Hai Phong Club had to pay a fine of 70 million VND.

Hanoi, believing that the suspension was too harsh, filed an appeal to the Appeals Board. As a result, the defending champions escaped having to play in an empty stadium when they hosted Ho Chi Minh City on April 27. This was the key match of round 7 when both teams were leading.

"The direct violators are Hai Phong fans," said a representative of the Complaints Resolution Board. "Comparing the level of punishment applied between the two clubs, it is unreasonable that the Hanoi Club match organizers were given a heavier punishment because the flare throwing was entirely the fault of Hai Phong fans. Point b, Clause 2, Article 68 of the Vietnam Football Federation's disciplinary regulations stipulate that if the fault is caused by the away team's fans, the away team will be disciplined."

The Disciplinary Board said they had no opinion on the reduction of the sentence. The reduction was decided by the Appeals Board. The two boards operate independently. Previously, the Appeals Board also reduced the suspension of the player who kicked the free kick into his own net, Nguyen Van Quan, to 7 matches, after the Disciplinary Board imposed an 11-match penalty.

Flares are a problem in Vietnamese football. VFF has sent a dispatch requesting the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to send a dispatch to the Ministry of Public Security to strengthen security. VFF also proposed that VPF install surveillance cameras and publicly take photos of extremists who use flares on the field.