Why is match-fixing still happening?

That the heartbreaking story of match-fixing in Vietnamese football continues, just in a more sophisticated, daring and reckless form.

Many people still remember the first shocking match-fixing case in 1997 that was discovered involving the Ho Chi Minh City Customs football team, followed by the case at the 2005 SEA Games involving the stars of the Vietnam U23 team, the case of the referee fixing matches in 2004, the "match-fixing" case at the AFC Cup in 2014 involving a series of Vissai Ninh Binh players, the case of 6 Dong Nai players selling matches also in 2014. And most recently, the case at the Ba Ria-Vung Tau team involving 5 players is currently being prosecuted by the investigation agency, the governing agency has terminated their playing contracts and will be tried according to the law in the near future.

It is worth mentioning that the shortcomings and undeserved existence of the V-League, which have left “stains” at the recent ASIAN Cup, are being dissected and will certainly be fought and prevented with the most effective measures. It is very possible that the incident in Ba Ria-Vung Tau is the “last straw” for the authorities to quickly intervene to handle the individuals involved, deter and cut off the seeds of crime, and put the country’s football on the right track.

Furthermore, there is no other way, the quality of each match and the entire V-League must be raised according to the current requirements of upgrading with a lot of related work, both immediate and long-term, not only for players but also for referees, organizers, media... Mr. Philippe Troussier once said that Vietnamese players often only play well within 70 minutes of top matches, which comes from bad habits of the V-League such as being slow to put the ball into play without being thoroughly handled, the situation of lying on the field indiscriminately, wasting time occurs frequently without being condemned or handled. The fouls of the players are not strictly handled by the referees and there is no shortage of the phenomenon of the black shirt "blowing the whistle" accepting the disciplinary penalty for a while and then finding a way to "perform" again on the field. The poor and incomplete use of VAR throughout the tournament makes it possible for old mistakes to still exist...

And it is impossible not to mention the story of "giving in" to each other, "alliance" with each other, "saving each other" in the past time is still a chronic, incurable disease of V-League. The saying of a coach "like a 4-legged chair, players hold 3 legs" still haunts everywhere and at all times. And the fact that teachers quickly lose their jobs, like the Korean coach Gong Oh-kyun recently, is not strange. Regrettably and worth mentioning is that people are still indifferent to the reality of "players holding 3 legs" causing football to continue to regress miserably as it was known.

Of course, it is not wrong to say that “one bad apple spoils the barrel” with the above-mentioned old and new shocking cases, because Vietnamese football is finding ways and knowing how to go on a better, more perfect path, knowing how to do it again more effectively. And still following the tradition of “not hitting the runner back”, still giving space to those who are troubled, repentant, to continue their work and career. In V-League, there have been and are people related to the old cases in the positions of coaches, assistants and they are being respected and promoted by society, experts as well as fans. In the current Vietnam National Team, there are young players who are being used, thanks to positive changes in all aspects after a period of regrettable mistakes.

But we cannot take lightly any big or small matter in life, in football, if we really want to reach the big sea, want to approach the continental level in the shortest time. And not only the football community, managers, experts, players... must actively and thoroughly participate, but the whole society must be united and support each other to hope for step-by-step success. Low income can make some players have shady calculations, they can be lured by bad guys as is often seen, when looking at other teams, other people with "plenty" cars, beautiful wives and good children... Did someone say that match-fixing still has a "place to perform"? So the root of the problem is still ensuring material and spiritual life so that they can confidently strive and contribute; it is still the right and professional way of behaving in each match and tournament to create objectivity and fairness in the whole; It is still the timely support and voice of the media and the encouragement and support of the large number of spectators who buy tickets to enter the stadium without letting the situation of the football team being owned by a rich "owner" who can do whatever he wants as has been seen...

While the continental gap has not been narrowed, regional rivals are making constant progress, Vietnamese football is still struggling with sad and… old incidents. Therefore, public opinion is looking forward to resolute and thorough steps from the authorities, professional agencies, each responsible person, each player... to completely eliminate all criminal acts, all social evils, all obstructive acts... to bring V-League and the entire football industry in the right direction and to the right place. And inevitably, those who and what are not worthy will have to be left behind mercilessly, there is no other way./.