The first Vietnamese female referee to officiate at the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers; Demanding a huge kickback, 'Vietnamese Messi' was ignored by a First Division team?

Demanding a huge bribe, "Vietnamese Messi" was ignored by a First Division team?

According to some sources, Ho Chi Minh City Youth Club has given up pursuingstriker Nguyen Cong Phuongbecause of the huge signing bonus. Specifically, the striker from Nghe An wants to receive a signing bonus of 8 billion VND/year and sign a 3-year contract. This is a very high signing bonus compared to the general level of Vietnamese football. In fact, not many V-League teams can spend such an amount.

Currently, only a few domestic players like Tuan Hai or Quang Hai have such a huge signing bonus. But remember, these are all top stars of Vietnamese football and they are all at the peak of their careers. Meanwhile, Cong Phuong has just returned from Japan after nearly 2 years. But during this time, he mainly only practiced alone or played for the reserve team. In the Vietnamese national team, the former Hoang Anh Gia Lai star also lost his position and almost no longer appeared in recent team meetings.

Therefore, "Vietnamese Messi" is no longer highly rated in terms of expertise.

The truth about the "VAR room" hanging above the stands makes fans scared

Round 2 of V.League 2024-2025 has 6 matches applying VAR. In which, Pleiku Stadium will host the first match with VAR when Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club plays againstLam River Nghe AnTherefore, the local match organizers must prepare technical facilities to meet the requirements, including installing a technical room right under the roof of the stands.

The design of Pleiku Stadium has no piste, the stands are very high but there are not many standing positions. Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club was forced to install a rotating chamber connected to the roof above. These welds are strong and ensure safety. However, the image of the VAR technology support room "precariously" in the middle of the stands still makes many fans worried when coming to watch the match.

In fact, this technical booth is used to place cameras. The VAR assistant referees do not sit in it but will work in a specialized vehicle placed outside the field. The screen for the main referee to review the situation is also placed on the field, near the touchline.

A leader of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club said: "We have installed additional positions to support VAR technology. These positions ensure safety according to regulations. The Pleiku Stadium Organizing Committee is very happy to welcomeVAR technology. Adding VAR technology will help matches become fairer and more accurate for each team."

Before the 2024/2025 V.League takes place, Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF) will receive 2 more VAR vehicles from FIFA. VPF aims to apply VAR to matches held in the South. Currently, each round of V.League will have 5-6 matches with VAR technology.

First Vietnamese female referee to officiate at AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers

Recently, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) sent a letter appointing 4 Vietnamese referees and assistant referees to participate in officiating matches at the 2025 AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers, including: Referees Ngo Duy Lan, Le Thi Ly and assistant referees Pham Hoai Tam and Nguyen Trung Hau.

Accordingly, female referee Le Thi Ly (Ho Chi Minh City) and assistant referee Nguyen Trung Hau (Da Nang) will participate in officiating matches in Group B, qualifying round of the 2025 AFC U20 Asian Cup.

Notably, referee Le Thi Ly will be the first female referee from Vietnam to be appointed at the AFC U20 men's football tournament. Previously, referee Le Thi Ly also participated in the Maurice Revello football tournament, within the framework of the 50th International Festival Espoirs in France.

Group B, with the participation of the two Vietnamese referees and assistant referees mentioned above, will take place in New Taipei City, Taiwan (China) and include the teams: Uzbekistan, Bahrain, Taiwan (China), Cambodia and Nepal. The matches will take place from September 19 to September 30.

Vietnam team had points deducted on FIFA rankings

Two defeats against Russia and Thailand in a series of friendly matches in September prevented the Vietnamese team from improving its position on the FIFA rankings.

In the latest FIFA update, the Vietnamese team was deducted 6.64 points after 2 losses. At this time, the teachers and studentsCoach Kim Sang-sikonly 1,161.38 points left on the FIFA rankings. The result caused the Vietnamese team to drop one place, to 116th place.

Vietnam's national football team has not been doing well recently. In early 2024, Vietnam ranked 94th in FIFA. However, failures at the 2023 Asian Cup and the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup have sent the team into a free fall.

The FIFA rankings are quite important because they will affect the seeding of teams in continental and world tournaments. The Vietnamese team's failure to qualify for the third qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup will also have a big impact on the progress of football.

While many competitors have built clear development strategies, the Vietnamese team is still struggling in a mess and has lost 11 of the last 12 matches.

While the Vietnamese team lost to Thailand in a friendly match during FIFA Days in September, Indonesia held two Asian giants, Saudi Arabia and Australia, to consecutive draws in the third qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup. Even at their peak, the Vietnamese team could not do this./.