Mr. Hoang Van Phuc was suspended from directing U23 Vietnam.

On the evening of October 30, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) suspended head coach Hoang Van Phuc and head of the Vietnam U23 team Truong Hai Tung. This shocking decision came just hours after the disappointing draw of Vietnam U23 against Bangu Atletico last night.

U23 Vietnam led Bangu 3-1 in the third match of Group B of BTV Cup 2013. With a 2-goal advantage and Bangu having only 10 players, U23 Vietnam should have easily won.

U23 Vietnam led Bangu 3-1 and should have easily won. (Photo: Quang Nhut - VNA)

However, the red-shirt players continuously made many incomprehensible mistakes, conceding 2 goals and accepting to leave the field with a 3-3 draw. This result made U23 only second in Group B and will have to meet Korean Students in the Semi-finals.

Immediately after the match, the VFF Standing Committee held a quick meeting and decided to suspend the duties of coach Hoang Van Phuc and head of delegation Truong Hai Tung. Assistant Phung Thanh Phuong was appointed as the interim coach of U23 Vietnam while VFF General Secretary Ngo Le Bang will fly to Binh Duong to take over the position of head of delegation today.

Mr. Phuc and Mr. Tung will have to submit a self-criticism to the VFF. Based on the results of their reports, the VFF will make a disciplinary decision after the BTV Cup and decide whether they will continue to participate in the SEA Games with the U23 Vietnam team.

VFF President Nguyen Trong Hy affirmed: “Before the SEA Games, U23 Vietnam played a match that lost the trust of fans. Given the playing attitude of U23 Vietnam, VFF cannot sit still. We must give a strict sentence to the head of the delegation and the head coach because the coaching board itself did not realize the problem, so the players played a terrible match that upset the audience.”

“Head of the delegation Truong Hai Tung and coach Hoang Van Phuc will have to immediately write a self-criticism to submit to the VFF. This is a temporary form of punishment. By the end of the BTV Cup 2013, we will clearly review each person's violations to continue handling. This is a very tough and resolute measure of the VFF. We will not be lenient with any individual, all for the purpose of achieving success for the Vietnam U23 team at the 27th SEA Games.”

Mr. Ngo Le Bang also said: "Temporarily, no one has concluded whether U23 Vietnam is negative about gambling or money or not, but what the players showed is very disappointing and unacceptable."

The main character of the incident, coach Hoang Van Phuc, said: “I have just heard the news of my temporary suspension. But the official decision has not been made yet, so I have to wait and see what happens. One thing I would like to confirm is that I did not incite the players to do bad things in the match against Bangu Atletico Clube.”

The next match of U23 Vietnam is the BTV Cup semi-final against Korean Students tomorrow (November 1). This will be Mr. Thanh Duong's first match as acting head coach of U23 Vietnam./.

According to VNA