Hanoi coach banned from directing 4 matches, Pleiku stadium fined

Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem reacts to referee Duy Lan. Photo:Hung Linh

Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem was banned from directing four consecutive matches in Vietnam's professional tournaments including the National Cup and V-League, and fined 15 million VND. This is a disciplinary measure for uncivilized behavior and insulting the referee.

Midfielder Pham Thanh Luong was also suspended for three consecutive matches in the National Cup and V-League, in addition to a fine of 10 million VND, for insulting the referee. Defender Nguyen Dai Dong and Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tuan, a media officer of Hanoi FC, were both banned for two matches for provoking spectators.

For letting fans throw water bottles onto the field, the Pleiku Stadium Organizing Committee was fined 25 million VND.

The match at Pleiku Stadium was exciting with a score chase, and ended with a 2-2 scoreline. However, the most talked about thing after the match was the tension on the sidelines. In the 83rd minute, Thanh Luong received a yellow card for reacting to referee Ngo Duy Lan, after being penalized in a ball dispute with Nguyen Van Thanh. The Hanoi midfielder then continued to show tension, and may have uttered uncultured words, leading to a direct red card.

Outside the field, Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem immediately became angry, insulting the referee and was also dismissed from the field. Not stopping there, he rushed onto the field and showed a provocative attitude as if he wanted to attack referee Lan. The assistants and reserve players of Hanoi had to strongly intervene to pull their coach inside. On the way to the stands, he also collided with a person who did not have an organizing committee badge, but was stopped so there was no fight.

At the end of the match, some Hanoi players continued to cause trouble, leading to a reaction from the audience at Pleiku Stadium. Many bottles and insults were thrown down to the away team's control area. In response, Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tuan threw a water bottle into the stands, because he thought that someone had insulted his father (Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hoi, Chairman of Hanoi Club).

The second leg of the quarter-final between Hanoi FC and HAGL takes place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15. The capital team only needs a 0-0, 1-1 draw or a win to advance.