V-League in turmoil: Referee Nguyen Trung Kien suspended, Coach Popov faces heavy penalty.
Referee Nguyen Trung Kien has been suspended from duty after a mistake that altered the outcome of the match, while coach Velizar Popov faces a heavy penalty from the VFF Disciplinary Committee.
Round 18 of the V-League 2025/26 has concluded with intense upheaval in both professional and disciplinary aspects. The heated controversies surrounding referee Nguyen Trung Kien's officiating and the reaction of coach Velizar Popov are now the focus of Vietnamese football public opinion.
A mistake changed the course of events at Thien Truong Stadium.
The focus of criticism was on Thien Truong Stadium during the match between Nam Dinh and HAGL. In the 75th minute, with the score at 1-1, striker Xuan Son of the home team was clearly fouled by Quang Kiet near the 5.5-meter line. However, referee Nguyen Trung Kien denied Nam Dinh a clear penalty.
This decision proved to be a cruel turning point for the Nam Dinh team. Just 7 minutes after the controversial incident, HAGL capitalized on the opportunity to score the winning goal in the 82nd minute, securing a 2-1 victory. The VFF referee committee subsequently held an emergency meeting and confirmed that Mr. Kien had made a serious misjudgment, directly altering the final outcome of the match.
As a natural consequence, this referee will face internal disciplinary action in the form of a temporary suspension from officiating duties in the upcoming rounds. The specific level of disciplinary action will be considered based on a detailed report of the misconduct in Nam Dinh.
Coach Velizar Popov's rage and the costly red card.
Meanwhile, in another development in the match between The Cong Viettel and Thanh Hoa, tension erupted in injury time. Coach Velizar Popov of the military team could not remain calm after claiming that the referee was lenient with Thanh Nam's brutal foul on the opposing team.
The Bulgarian strategist threw away his coaching card and reacted extremely aggressively to the refereeing team. Referee Nguyen Viet Duan immediately issued two consecutive yellow cards, dismissing Popov from the sidelines. This is a significant loss for The Cong Viettel, as this head coach is the heart and soul of the team's playing style.
Risk of additional penalties from the VFF Disciplinary Committee.
Coach Popov's impulsive behavior didn't just result in a red card. The tournament organizers have officially forwarded the case to the VFF Disciplinary Committee for consideration of more severe penalties. Given his history of frequent heated reactions on the field, Mr. Popov faces the risk of a fine of up to 20 million VND and a temporary ban from performing his duties.
This incident once again raises concerns about the conduct of coaches and the accuracy of refereeing in the V-League. Strict disciplinary actions in the future are expected to help restore the image of Vietnam's top professional league.
