OFFICIAL: VPF reorganizes V.League 2020 with a 'strange' plan

Trung Kien DNUM_BDZAFZCACA 12:20

(Baonghean.vn) - In the meeting on the morning of May 13, delegates attending the Vietnam Football Federation Executive Committee Conference agreed with option 2 proposed by VPF to organize domestic football tournaments, after the Covid-19 epidemic has been controlled.

Accordingly, the National Championship and National First Division will compete in 2 stages.

I. COMPETITION METHOD:Change the competition method of the National Championship and National First Division, keep the competition method of the National Cup.

National Championship:The expected time is from June 5 to October 25, 2020. Including 134 matches with 2 stages as follows:

Phase 1:The purpose of grouping clubs to compete in phase 2 includes 13 rounds with 91 matches, expected to continue from June 5 (round 3) to August 2, 2020 (round 13).

- 13 rounds according to the issued first leg schedule include:

+ 2 rounds were played in March 2020: round 1 and round 2 with 14 matches.

+ 11 remaining rounds of the first leg: from round 3 to round 13 with 77 matches.

V.League 2020 chính thức được ấn đinh ngày trở lại. Ảnh: Thành Cường
V.League 2020 officially set return date. Photo: Thanh Cuong

- Phase 1 ranking:

+ How to calculate points: Win 3 points, draw 1 point, lose 0 points.

+ Calculate the total points each club achieved through 13 matches to rank phase 1.

+ If two or more clubs have the same number of points, the indexes of all matches in phase 1 will be considered in the following order:

* Difference between total goals scored and total goals conceded.

* Total goals.

* If the indexes are still equal, the points will continue to be calculated based on the number of yellow cards and red cards the club receives at the end of phase 1 (1 yellow card 1 point, 1 red card 3 points). The club that receives fewer points will be ranked higher.

* If the indexes are still equal, a draw will be held to determine the higher ranked club.

- Grouping:

+ 8 clubs ranked from 1-8 in phase 1 will belong to group A of phase 2.

+ 6 clubs ranked from 9-14 in phase 1 will belong to group B of phase 2.

Phase 2:The purpose of ranking the entire tournament of clubs includes 7 rounds (28 matches) of group A and 5 rounds (15 matches) of group B, expected to start from August 14 to October 25, 2020.

+ Group A: Includes 8 clubs competing in 7 rounds according to the attached schedule.

+ Group B: Includes 6 clubs competing in 5 rounds according to the attached schedule.

National First Division:Expected start time: from June 6 to September 26, 2020.

Includes 96 matches with 2 stages as follows:

Phase 1:The purpose of grouping clubs to compete in phase 2 includes 11 rounds with 66 matches, expected to start from June 6 (round 1) to August 3, 2020 (round 11) according to the issued first leg schedule.

- Grouping:

+ 6 clubs ranked from 1-6 in phase 1 will belong to group A of phase 2.

+ 6 clubs ranked from 7-12 in phase 1 will belong to group B of phase 2.

Only 1 team in V.League 2020 was relegated. Photo: VPF

Phase 2:The purpose of ranking the entire tournament of clubs includes 5 rounds with 15 matches of group A and 15 matches of group B scheduled to start from August 15 to September 26, 2020.

+ Group A: Includes 6 clubs competing in 5 rounds according to the attached schedule.

+ Group B: Includes 6 clubs competing in 5 rounds according to the attached schedule.

- Stage 2 ranking.

National Cup:

Maintain the single-match knockout format (5 rounds with 25 matches) scheduled from May 23 to October 31, 2020.

Play-off: Single-elimination match, scheduled for September 30, 2020 (if applicable).

This option was chosen due to its advantages:

- Competition density is scientifically distributed, ensuring recovery time, helping athletes limit injuries.

- There is a break between stages.

- Ensure transfer time, helping clubs proactively supplement their forces to prepare well for the next stages.

- Ensure the tournaments end on schedule: October 31, 2020.

- National team: Have adequate time to prepare for World Cup Qualifiers and AFF Suzuki Cup matches.

- Ho Chi Minh City and Than Quang Ninh clubs will not face many difficulties when AFC announces the adjusted schedule of AFC Cup from July 2020.

- Have a reserve time fund for the plan, convenient for adjusting the competition schedule if unusual incidents occur such as natural disasters, stormy weather, etc.

Trung Kien