Vietnamese sports at risk of having SEA Games 31 Gold Medal stripped due to doping; Can Tho players strike, coach Viet Thang resigns

VFF announces International Friendly Football Tournament - Hung Thinh 2022

On September 15, at the headquarters of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), the announcement and press information exchange ceremony of the International Friendly Football Tournament - Hung Thinh 2022 took place. The tournament will be held at Thong Nhat Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City from September 21 to 27.

This is a tournament in the preparation plan ofVietnam teamaiming for the 2022 Southeast Asian Championship (AFF Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2022), which is highly appreciated by head coach Park Hang-seo for its professional quality with the participation of two guest teams, Singapore and India.

In order to help the team make the most of the opportunity to review and evaluate the team's strength, VFF has chosen the time to organize the International Friendly Football Tournament - Hung Thinh 2022 to coincide with the FIFA international match schedule (FIFA days). This will create favorable conditions for the coaching staff to have the best choice of personnel to build the team's strength.

VFF leaders and sponsors announced the awards at the tournament. Photo: VFF

Mr. Le Hoai Anh - General Secretary of VFF said: “Regarding the guest list, after discussing professional issues with head coach Park Hang-seo, and through international relations, the Vietnam Football Federation has sent invitations and received consent to participate in the tournament from the two teams Singapore and India. Notably, at the recent draw for the 2022 Southeast Asian tournament, the Singapore team was one of the four opponents in the same group with the Vietnam team. Therefore, competing against each other in the upcoming friendly tournament is also a good practice session for both teams. In addition, VFF hopes that the presence of the Indian team - a strong team in the South Asian region - will help the tournament become more colorful, more competitive and dedicated, meeting the football enjoyment needs of a large number of fans”.

To prepare for the Hung Thinh 2022 International Friendly Football Tournament, the Vietnam National Team will gather again on September 17 in Ho Chi Minh City. In the list of 31 players announced by VFF, in addition to the experienced players who have been with the excellent team for the first time in history to participate in the third qualifying round of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Asia, head coach Park Hang-seo also gave opportunities to many promising young faces to create depth for the team, aiming for other future goals of the Vietnam National Team.

According to plan, the Singapore team will arrive in Vietnam on September 19, and the Indian team will arrive in Vietnam on September 20.

Can Tho players strike, coach Viet Thang resigns

Can Tho Club was heavily invested before the 2022 season with the goal of competing for promotion to the V-League. After an unsuccessful 2021 season and at times facing the risk of disbandment, the Tay Do team was transferred to a new unit.

The entire team members were also promised many things by the new president, Mr. Nguyen Dac Van, before the 2022 season.

Mr. Dac Van is a famous player transfer expert in Vietnam, the representative of Nguyen Quang Hai, helping this player go to France to play for Pau FC in Ligue 2 recently.

However, the performance of the Tay Do team has declined since the middle of the first phase of the 2022 National First Division, many players are no longer eager to compete because they are owed salaries and bonuses.

Can Tho Club will not play until the players are paid their salaries and bonuses. Photo: VPF

In early September 2022, many Can Tho Club players spoke out about being owed salaries and bonuses for July and August, and in many cases, they did not receive signing bonuses according to the original agreement.

Although the team's leadership tried to appease them by promising to pay their salaries and bonuses in advance for one month, the team's players did not agree and decided to go on strike and not continue playing for Can Tho Club in the remaining stages of the tournament if the leadership did not resolve the debts.

Coach Nguyen Viet Thang wrote a farewell message to Can Tho football fans on his personal page. Screenshot from FBNV

In addition, at the meeting between the team and the leaders of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho on the afternoon of September 15, head coach Nguyen Viet Thang officially submitted his resignation.

“The team owes us 1 month’s salary, 4 months of food, bonuses for 3 wins, 3 draws and some transfer fees. We will not play until the management resolves all these debts,” a player of Can Tho Club affirmed.

Coach Nguyen Viet Thang's decision to resign also made many Can Tho Club players sad. They shared: "We are very sad that Mr. Thang is leaving, but he has no other choice. He fought and protected us to the end but was powerless."

VFF seeks to bring Quang Hai to the Vietnam team for AFF Cup 2022

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) is working with Pau FC to find a way to bring Quang Hai back to participate in the AFF Cup 2022.

"The playing schedule of professional players is very busy. In principle, professional players will be allowed to play for the national team on FIFA Days. We will discuss with their clubs.Quang Haito find opportunities to see if Hai can participate in the AFF Cup 2022," said General Secretary of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Le Hoai Anh.

Quang Hai is currently playing for Pau FC in Ligue 2 (France's second division). This player will have difficulty participating in the AFF Cup 2022 with the Vietnamese team if not allowed by his home club.

VFF is looking for ways to bring Quang Hai back to attend AFF Cup 2022. Photo: Pau FC

The AFF Cup is a tournament in Southeast Asia. This year, the tournament does not coincide with FIFA's international competition schedule. Therefore, clubs have the right to refuse to let players return to serve the national team. In order to bring Quang Hai back to wear the Vietnamese national team jersey for the AFF Cup 2022, the VFF must reach an agreement with Pau FC.

In the immediate future, Quang Hai will take a flight from France to Ho Chi Minh City on September 19 to participate in an international friendly tournament in Ho Chi Minh City. This is a friendly tournament taking place in the September international series of FIFA. The Vietnamese team will meet Singapore on September 21 and India on September 27.

Mr. Le Hoai Anh said: "The international friendly tournament is an important preparation step for the upcoming AFF Cup. We know that Singapore's strongest squad will participate in the tournament. As for India, on FIFA Day, the force called to participate will be their best."

The Vietnamese team will gather in Ho Chi Minh City on September 16 with 30 players, Quang Hai is the last to gather due to being busy competing in Ligue 2.

Currently, Quang Hai is facing many difficulties at Pau FC. In the last 3 matches, Quang Hai only played 11 minutes for the Ligue 2 team. Coach Didier Tholot no longer prioritizes using the Vietnamese player in the main squad and in the last 2 matches, this midfielder was not allowed to come off the bench.

Vietnamese sports at risk of having SEA Games 31 Gold Medal stripped due to doping

There are at least 6 positive cases of doping among Vietnamese athletes participating in the 31st SEA Games.

At the 31st SEA Games held in May in Vietnam, nearly 1,000 athletes from the Vietnamese Sports Delegation and other countries were randomly tested for banned substances (doping).

Along with a number of foreign athletes, host Vietnam discovered 6 positive cases with sample A (first test). Among them, there were athletes in athletics, one of the events that brought the most athletes to the Vietnamese sports delegation at the 31st SEA Games.

Because the results were positive for the first test sample, the identities of the athletes have not been announced by the Organizing Committee until the results of the control sample B (second test) are available, at the request of the athlete or the sport.

However, according to WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency), testing negative for sample B after testing positive for sample A is extremely rare.

Scene of the opening ceremony of SEA Games 31 in Hanoi. Photo: ANH PHUONG

Among the countries participating in the 31st SEA Games, Singapore was the first country to reveal that two swimmers, including Rio Olympic Gold Medalist Joseph Schooling and Amanda Lim, tested positive for banned substances during the 31st SEA Games in Hanoi.

In case the test results are confirmed by sample B, in addition to being stripped of the medals won at the 31st SEA Games, these athletes will also face fines, long-term bans from competition... not to mention the sport will also be jointly responsible if many athletes commit the same violation.

At the 31st Southeast Asian Games held from May 12 to 23, the Vietnamese sports delegation with nearly 1,000 athletes won a total of 205 gold medals; 125 silver medals, 116 bronze medals, taking the top position overall.

In the event that athletes are found guilty of doping and stripped of their SEA Games 31 medals, although it will not affect the host's ranking, the invisible damage to Vietnamese sports is immeasurable.

Ronaldo opens fire, MU wins first match in Europa League

Ronaldo scored his first goal of the season to help MU defeat Sheriff Tiraspol 2-0 in their away match in Moldova.

Ronaldo celebrates for the first time this season

Line-up

Sheriff Tiraspol: Koval; Zohouri, Kiki, Radeljic, Kpozo; Diop, Kyabou, Badolo; Rasheed (Vizeu 73'), Atiemwen; Outtara (Pernambuco 73').

MU: De Gea; Varane, Martinez (Maguire 90'), Dalot (Shaw 70'), Malacia; McTominay (Casemiro 46'), Eriksen, Fernandes, Antony (Garnacho 90'), Sancho; Ronaldo (Elanga 81').

Goals: Sancho 17', Ronaldo 39' (pen)

Thanh Hien (vov.vn/zing.vn)