VPF changes V-League and National Cup schedule because Binh Duong threatens to withdraw from the tournament

"The second leg of the National Cup semi-final will take place on September 23, as proposed by Binh Duong. The V-League schedule for this day will also be adjusted," VPF Chairman Tran Anh Tu shared withVnExpress.

According to the original plan, the match between Binh Duong and Hanoi took place on September 5. However, after the Vietnam Olympic team entered the semi-finals of the 2018 Asian Games, VFF and VPF proposed to postpone the schedule, because the players would not be returned to their clubs until the evening of September 3, and would only have one day off, so they could not compete.

Binh Duong proposed to play on September 23. VPF initially did not agree, because this was the day of the V-League. Organizing the second leg of the National Cup semi-final would mean having to adjust the entire V-League, and would affect many aspects. VPF proposed October 3, but Binh Duong did not agree, threatening not to play, admitting defeat 0-3.

Binh Duong also said that postponing the second leg of the National Cup was a favor to Hanoi FC, the team of Mr. Hien. However, VPF affirmed that they did so as an optimal calculation for the players who had just played seven matches within 18 days at the 2019 Asian Games.

Previously, VPF also proposed to change the schedule of the remaining semi-final match between SLNA and Thanh Hoa, but the two teams asked to keep the schedule. At Vinh Stadium, Pham Xuan Manh and Phan Van Duc - two SLNA players who had just returned from the Asiad in Indonesia - suffered injuries and had to take a long-term break.

Hanoi will visit HAGL in the V-League on September 19. The team then travels to Binh Duong to prepare for the National Cup. The first leg between the two teams ended in a 3-3 draw.