VietNamNet Bridge – To ensure security at the football game between Saigon FC and Hai Phong FC at HCM City’s Thong Nhat Stadium this Saturday, February 4, up to 250 police officers will be mobilized.

This decision was made at a meeting of the Thong Nhat Stadium management board on February 1. The decision came after the incident that occurred at the same stadium on January 29.

After the quarter-final match of the National Cup between Saigon FC and Thanh Hoa FC last week, hundreds of Saigonese fans threw bricks and stone into the bus of Thanh Hoa FC. One football player was injured.

At the meeting between Thong Nhat Stadium management board and the three FCs that uses Thong Nhat as their home stadium – Navibank Saigon, Saigon FC (Super League) and HCM City FC (First Division), the stadium managers decided to increase the number of police officers for each match from 70 to 150-200.

In addition, female guards will be arranged at gates to control female fans.

“The upcoming game at the fourth round of Super League between the guest team Saigon FC and Hai Phong FC is anticipated as a tense one so up to 250 mobile policemen will be mobilized,” said the director of Thong Nhat Stadium, Tran Dinh Huan.

Policemen will guard around the football grounds and on stands in order to quickly prevent fans of two FCs to fight each others or to throw things onto the ground.

The organizing board also asked the three FCs to address the behavior and attitude of their players towards fans.

In related news, the Super League organizing board on February 1, announced its decision to impose VND50 million of fine on Saigon FC and ban its fans from the FC’s next game, meaning the upcoming game again Thanh Hoa FC this weekend. The reason is that Saigon FC did not ensure security at the game on January 29.

Also in this case, Thanh Hoa FC’s captain Le Bat Hieu has to pay VND10 million of fine and is suspended from two games at the National Cup. However, Thanh Hoa FC was ousted from this tournament so Hieu’s suspension will be applied next year.

S. Tung