Hai Phong wants to host the match against China; HAGL may lose its place in the AFC Champions League
(Baonghean.vn) - The two matches that Hai Phong proposed to host are the matches between Vietnam and China and Oman in the third qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup; The team that tops the table after 12 rounds may not be able to participate in the AFC Champions League next season.
Hai Phong asked to host 2 matches
The People's Committee of Hai Phong City has just issued an official dispatch agreeing with the proposal of the Department of Culture & Sports of Hai Phong and Song Hong Joint Stock Company to host the football matches of the Vietnam National Team at Lach Tray Stadium.
Accordingly, the two matches that the People's Committee of Hai Phong City proposed to organize are the matches between Vietnam National Team and China National Team (February 1, 2022) and Oman National Team (March 24, 2022) in the third qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup.
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| Lach Tray Stadium "on fire" to celebrate Vietnam entering the semi-finals of Asiad 2018. Photo: VNE |
Speaking to the press, a VFF leader said he highly appreciated the attention of the Hai Phong City People's Committee to the Vietnam National Team. However, on the other hand, this leader also revealed that the VFF itself does not have the authority to decide where the Vietnam National Team will compete.
According to this leader, only the Government has the right to grant permission to organize international football competitions for the Vietnam National Team, because Vietnam is still struggling with the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic, so the organizational mechanisms are very complicated because they involve the coordination and permission of many ministries, departments and branches.
HAGL may lose its place in the AFC Champions League
Up to now, the VFF announcement stated: "Based on the professional results of the clubs up to the end of round 12 of the V.League 2021 football tournament, it will be the basis for reporting to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in determining Vietnam's representative to participate in AFC club tournaments in 2022 based on the current licensing standards of the AFC".
Thus, in theory, when VFF reports to AFC, HAGL - the team ranked first after round 12 of V.League will theoretically be allowed to participate in AFC Champions League. The next two teams, Viettel (2nd) and Than Quang Ninh (3rd), will participate in AFC Cup. However, in reality, the right to decide which representative of Vietnam will participate in AFC club tournaments (AFC Champions League, AFC Cup) in 2022 will belong to AFC, based on the strict standards set by this Federation.
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| Cong Phuong (yellow shirt) and his teammates missed the chance to win the V-League for the first time. Photo: Lam Thoa |
It is worth noting that since 2021, the AFC has introduced additional regulations on registering clubs to participate in Asian tournaments if the season cannot be completed due to the impact of the epidemic. In terms of professional standards, clubs participating in Asian tournaments must play at least 27 matches in a season, including national championships and cup tournaments. If considered according to this criterion, Vietnamese teams have not been able to complete because they have only played about 12 to 13 matches.
Hoang Duc will not go to Korean club
Daejeon Hana Citizen FC is playing in K League 2 in Korea. This team has made an offer to Viettel FC but the two sides have not reached an agreement. Daejeon Hana Citizen is ranked third in K League 2 2021 after 30 rounds. They have 48 points and have a chance to compete for promotion to K League 1 next season.
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| Hoang Duc (right) plays consistently for both his club and the Vietnamese national team. Photo: Quang Thinh. |
Viettel FC is considering another option from Thailand, BG Pathum. The Thai champions last season have sent an official offer to borrow Hoang Duc. They seem very serious about this contract.
In the past three seasons, Hoang Duc played a total of 52 matches in the V.League, an average of 17.3 matches/season. This number does not fully reflect Duc's ability because the 2021 season only has 12 rounds. In the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, the player from Hai Duong played in 6 out of 8 matches of the Vietnamese team, starting 4 matches.
