Coach Calisto will lead Long An Club?

The team that just caused a scandal in round 6 of V-League 2017 will have many changes at the top in the near future.

» Priest Nguyen Dinh Thuc incites parishioners

Long An Club is trying to make amends, after the incident of "standing still" allowing the opponent to score three goals in the V-League last weekend. Photo: Gia Khanh.

According to the source ofVnExpress, Long An Club has accepted the resignation of Chairman Vo Thanh Nhiem. The person appointed as a temporary replacement is Mr. Nguyen Mon. The position of the head of this Club will be discussed again after the end of the first leg of V-League 2017.

Head coach Ngo Quang Sang and captain Huynh Quang Thanh were both dismissed, while CEO Huynh Ngoc San also expressed his wish to resign.

These decisions were approved at the meeting of the Board of Directors of Long An Football Joint Stock Company this morning, February 21.

It is expected that former coach Henrique Calisto will be invited back to lead Long An. The problem will most likely depend on the Portuguese strategist.

Mr. Calisto once led the Western team to the V-League championship in 2005, 2006 and runner-up in 2003, 2007, 2008. He then helped the Vietnamese team win the AFF Cup 2008. After leaving Vietnam, in 2011, Calisto went to Thailand to lead Muangthong United Club and a year later returned to Portugal to lead his hometown teams.

Last September, Mr. Calisto returned to Vietnam at the invitation of Mr. Vo Quoc Thang - Chairman of Dong Tam Long An Company - when his old team played a play-off match for a place in V-League 2017.

Calisto is one of the most beloved foreign coaches in Vietnam. Photo: Dong Huyen.

Long An has been the focus of public opinion in recent days, after causing a scandal in the match with Ho Chi Minh City at Thong Nhat Stadium on Sunday, February 19. In the 80th minute, when the score was 2-2, they were awarded a penalty. Disagreeing with the referee's decision, the away players left the field. After being persuaded to return, the players did not continue playing but stood like statues on the field, allowing the opponent to score three consecutive goals, setting the score at 5-2 for Ho Chi Minh City.

While waiting for the penalty from the Vietnam Football Federation, the Tan An Stadium team apologized to the fans and disciplined goalkeeper Minh Nhut. In the situation of facing the controversial penalty, the 31-year-old goalkeeper reacted by turning his back on the Ho Chi Minh City player.

The "unique" reaction of Long An players

Before this match, Long An had not won any matches, and was currently stuck at the bottom of the scoreboard.

According to VNE