Mr. Nguyen Van Mui 'turned back' on Cong Vinh's proposal

Head of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Referee Board Nguyen Van Mui made the above comments after Ho Chi Minh City Club Acting President Le Cong Vinh made a proposal to improve the quality of the Vietnam Football Championship.

Ho Chi Minh City FC players react to referee Nguyen Van Kien. Photo: Minh Hoang

Frustrated with the penalty not being awarded in the 83rd minute, as well as the way referee Nguyen Van Kien (who was threatened to be killed by Ngoc Tung of Ho Chi Minh City FC in 2011) officiated the match between Hai Phong and Ho Chi Minh City FC in round 21 of the Toyota V-League at Lach Tray Stadium on October 14, Ho Chi Minh City FC acting President Le Cong Vinh proposed calling for sponsorship to help VFF and VPF hire foreign referees and high-class football managers to restore trust in fairness for the V-League, in order to attract spectators to the stadium.

“If a tournament has poor quality referees, it will greatly affect the teams and sponsors. I am ready to call for sponsorship to hire foreign referees and foreign-class referee managers to run professional tournaments,” said Cong Vinh.

Present at Lach Tray Stadium, Head of the VFF Referee Committee Nguyen Van Mui said: “We will have to wait for the tape to re-evaluate the referee’s decision. Since the beginning of the tournament, referee Kien has been one of the best referees, never having to receive a “suspension” from the Organizing Committee. Perhaps Cong Vinh is upset because there were 2 situations where the ball entered the net but was not recognized.”

Regarding Cong Vinh's proposal, Mr. Mui said that VFF and VPF have their own working regulations, each department has its own functions and all need to respect: "We have to accept the error. If because of the wrong referee, we use foreign referees, and the manager also invites foreigners, what will remain of Vietnamese football?

I am not covering up for the referee, but there are situations where replaying the game 3-4 times still does not guarantee accuracy, and we cannot demand that the referee make an absolutely accurate decision in a split second. I am not saying that the referee is absolutely right, but when the clubs see the referee making a decision in their favor, they do not say anything, and when they feel disadvantaged, they criticize the referee for being weak. That is not fair.

This December, VPF will hold a shareholders' meeting, and as a member, the acting President of Ho Chi Minh City Club affirmed that he will present his proposal.

According to TNO