The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) issues a series of penalties following the 0-3 forfeit loss in the National Third Division.
On November 7, 2025, the VFF Disciplinary Committee fined A Hung 1,250,000 VND and suspended him for 3 matches; Coach Nguyen Van Long and Mr. Thai Van Dung were each suspended for 2 matches following the incident during the Truong Giang Gia Dinh - STP FOOD TP.HCM match.
The Disciplinary Committee of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) announced a series of penalties in the 2025 National Third Division League, following a decision to award a 0-3 loss to a team for violating regulations. The focus was on the incident in the match between Truong Giang Gia Dinh and STP FOOD TP.HCM on November 5, 2025, where actions against the referee caused a 10-minute interruption to the game.
VFF's disciplinary decision
According to the announcement dated November 7, 2025, the Disciplinary Committee issued the following penalties:
- A player A Hung (STP FOOD TP.HCM) is fined 1,250,000 VND and suspended from the next 3 matches for reacting to the referee and intentionally disrupting the Truong Giang Gia Dinh - STP FOOD TP.HCM match on November 5, 2025.
- Mr. Nguyen Van Long, Head Coach of STP FOOD TP.HCM, was fined 1,250,000 VND and suspended from duty for the next two matches for reacting to the referee and intentionally disrupting the aforementioned match.
- A fine of 1,250,000 VND and a two-match suspension from duty has been imposed on Mr. Thai Van Dung, a technical analyst at STP FOOD Ho Chi Minh City, for the same reason.
Key event: the penalty was overturned in the 65th minute.
The incident erupted in the 65th minute. The main referee initially awarded STP Food TP.HCM a penalty, but after consulting with his assistant, the decision was reversed and changed to a drop ball for Truong Giang Gia Dinh. This reversal immediately provoked a strong reaction from STP Food TP.HCM.
Disagreeing with the decision, many players left the field and headed towards the technical area; Coach Nguyen Van Long loudly argued with the refereeing team. Player A Hung brought a plastic chair onto the field to sit on, while some other players went to the locker room. The match was interrupted for about 10 minutes before it could resume.
Context: The 0-3 defeat was handed down due to the use of unqualified players.
Prior to the aforementioned penalties, the VFF had already handed Luxury Ha Long Club a 0-3 defeat against Hanoi Bulls for using an ineligible player, along with a 5 million VND fine. Although the 2025 National Third Division League has only completed a few rounds, disciplinary action has already been taken repeatedly.
Immediate impact on STP FOOD Ho Chi Minh City
The suspensions mean STP FOOD TP.HCM will be without A Hung for the next three matches; coaches Nguyen Van Long and Thai Van Dung will be unavailable for two matches. With the tournament still long, the shortage of personnel and coaching staff may force the team to make significant adjustments both in the technical area and on the field.
The numbers are noteworthy.
- 0-3: Luxury Ha Long forfeited the match against Hanoi Bulls due to player eligibility violations.
- 5 million VND: The fine imposed on Luxury Ha Long Club after the aforementioned match.
- 1,250,000 VND: The fine imposed on each individual at STP FOOD Ho Chi Minh City in the incident on November 5, 2025.
- 03 and 02: The number of suspension matches for A Hung (03) and two members of the coaching staff (02).
- 10 minutes: The period during which the Truong Giang Gia Dinh - STP FOOD TP.HCM match was interrupted.
- November 7, 2025: The date the VFF Disciplinary Committee issued disciplinary decisions.
