The unjust penalty card in the national First Division match yesterday, May 13, was not the only sad story in the troubled career of Vu Quang Nam (Phu Yen team).

Vu Quang Nam is a young talent from Nghe An training camp. He won the national U21 championship in 2012. At that tournament, this striker won the top scorer award. In addition, he also surpassed teammates such as Hoang Thinh, Phi Son, Huy Hung, Khac Ngoc, Dinh Hoang, The Cuong... to win the best player award of the tournament.

After that brilliant tournament, this striker was promoted by coach Nguyen Huu Thang to the SLNA first team to compete in the V-League 2012-2013. However, when he had not shown anything in the highest national tournament, injury interrupted the career of the player from Quynh Luu. Throughout the years 2013-2015, he had to undergo surgery twice to treat patellar cartilage injury.

Despite his persistent treatment, Quang Nam’s injury still did not heal completely. His contract with SLNA Club was terminated, and he had to find other amateur football fields. But Quang Nam’s determination to return to the top football field still urged him. “I sent a film of my injury to Singapore. However, I did not have the 500 million VND to completely treat it, so I had to give up,” Quang Nam sadly shared.

Quang Nam (18) shone at the 2012 National U21 tournament like Phi Son (10), but now the careers of these two players are at two different extremes. Phi Son is a mainstay of SLNA and has worn the U23 and Vietnam national team jerseys many times, while Quang Nam is still struggling.

In early 2016, Quang Nam accidentally learned that Phu Yen was recruiting players and he boldly registered. After passing many tests and medical examinations, he was signed. Thanks to his efforts to lose weight and regain his peak form, he was given the opportunity to play by coach Nguyen Dinh Hung. In the previous round, Quang Nam scored a beautiful goal in the 1-1 draw against Tay Ninh. And when his form and excitement were at its peak, he had another "accident" in yesterday's match against Viettel.

The incident happened in the 75th minute, in an off-ball situation, Phu Yen's striker received a straight punch in the face from the home team's central defender. Referee Nguyen Huu Tuan did not notice the incident. But after consulting with the fourth referee, he decided to give a yellow card to both the player who hit and the one who received the punch. Because he had previously received a card, Quang Nam had to leave the field.

“I don’t understand why I got a yellow card. I didn’t do anything, I was the one who got hit in the face and should have been protected,” said striker Vu Quang Nam.

“In that situation, Van Thiet and I were running side by side. I tried to pass him but he swung his arm and hit me hard in the face. The incident happened right in front of the fourth referee's observation area but they still did not clearly detect it. The referee should have given Van Thiet a direct red card. Because it was a clear and intentional hit, not a hit so secret that the referee team did not know.”

Vu Quang Nam (left) in Phu Yen Club shirt. Photo: Phu Yen Newspaper.

This match was broadcast live on television. Therefore, the cold blow of the former U19 Vietnam player was filmed many times, causing public outrage about the referee's ability to referee. "Luckily, the match was live and filmed very clearly, so no one could argue. Otherwise, it would be unfair to us," Quang Nam said.

“I was unlucky,” he added. “Let’s forget about the past and try again in other matches.”

According to VNE