The syndrome of… 'worshiping the referee'

(Baonghean.vn) - The battleThe National Super Cup - Thaco Cup 2016 recently held at Hang Day Stadium was considered a true football party, if it did not have the trace of 'praying to live' for the referee.

With a strong squad and playing at home, HN.T&T was led by the visiting team Than Quang Ninh in the 3rd minute after Patiyo's header. The chase ended at 3-3 thanks to Gonzalo's header in the 79th minute. Hanoi FC - T.Quang Ninh had to decide the match on penalties.

The brilliance of goalkeeper Tuan Linh in successfully blocking two shots from Gonzalo and Duy Manh helped the team from the mining land overcome Hanoi FC with a score of 4-2 in the penalty shootout (total score 7-5), winning the National Super Cup in a dramatic way.

Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem is bowing to referee Vo Minh Tri. Photo: Internet

The fact that 2 trophies were lost at home to the same opponent, Than Quang Ninh, with an "old acquaintance" coach Phan Thanh Hung, made the HN.T&T coaching staff angry. Believing that referee Vo Minh Tri forced Quang Hai to break into the left wing, and then Van Quyet was wrongly called by the referee for a corner kick that HN FC should have had because the ball touched Ramon's foot, coach Chu Dinh Nghiem "prayed" for the referee.

Sitting in the stands, Mr. Hoan - a Hanoi FC fan bitterly said: "In terms of movements, Hanoi FC coach did quite well, first bowing to heaven and earth, second bowing to the referee. But in terms of expertise, it is difficult to accept regardless of whether referee Vo Minh Tri is right or wrong?"

Not only Mr. Hoan but also many viewers watching the match on VTV6 were disappointed when witnessing the "strange actions" on the field of the HN FC coaching staff, such as kicking water bottles, rushing onto the field. Many fathers turned off the TV, not wanting their children to see such actions of adults.

The “living worship” syndrome is not new. Last year, referee Vo Minh Tri was “worshiped” by foreign players of Hai Phong, Fagan and Stevens, on Cam Pha field. Referee Tri’s colleagues, Vu Bao Linh, were worshiped by national team player Cong Vinh on Cao Lanh field in V-League 2010, and “bull” Timothy Anjembe worshiped referee Nguyen Van Dong on Nha Trang field in V-League 2011. Next, in V.League 2012, defender Nguyen Quoc Long of Hanoi T&T (now joined Saigon FC) worshiped referee Ngo Quoc Hung, and in V.League 2013, coach Francisco Vital ran to the sidelines to react violently and clasped his hands to “worship” referee Tran Trung Hieu.

Fagan also bowed three times to referee Vo Minh Tri.

The fact that foreign coaches and players, who do not understand much about Eastern culture, are very "proficient" in every bowing movement proves that "strange actions" on the Vietnamese football field have become a syndrome.

It is not that the Organizing Committee and the VFF Disciplinary Board have been lenient, the coaches and players who worship the king of the field have been punished, even severely, but such actions still tend to increase. This image has destroyed the inherent beauty of the field, leaving a bad impression in the eyes of the audience, especially children.

We cannot let the coaching staff and players not focus on their skills when they are on the field, and sometimes suddenly want to “pray” like they are doing now. If the referee is wrong, VFF needs to impose heavy penalties, not “pray for life” as an immediate reaction like now.

AT