VietNamNet Bridge – Do Quang Hien, Chairman of the T&T Group and the Saigon-Hanoi Commercial JS Bank (SHB Bank), has confirmed that his companies do not manage or control the operation of SHB Danang and Hanoi T&T FCs.

He also said that the relationship between SHB Bank, T & T Group and SHB Da Nang and Ha Noi T & T football clubs will be adjusted through sponsorship deals.

On September 19, Mr. Do Quang Hien sent a document to answer the Vietnam Football Federation’s (VFF) dispatch related to the issue "a boss runs two football teams".

The document said: "In any case, no single person or entity has the right to manage more than one football club".

This issue is stipulated in Clause 3, Article 19 of the VFF Charters. According to VFF’s dispatch to Hien, the three teams - Hanoi, Hanoi T & T and SHB Da Nang are related to Hien, who is popularly known as “Bau Hien,” the office Chairman of T & T Group and SHB Bank.

Hien’s document confirmed: "T & T Group has no right to manage and govern any activity of e the T & T Sports JS Company or the football clubs of this company ".

He explained in the document: "T & T Sports and T & T Group with me as chairman and CEO are two independent entities, with different seals and accounts. T & T Group is not the parent company and does not have the right to manage the T & T Sports because it does not own more than 50 percent of the shares, or all of the shares. "

Similarly, the document also confirmed: "SHB Bank does not have the right to manage and govern any activity of the SHB Sports Da Nang JSC or the SHB Da Nang FC."

They are independent legal entities but Hanoi T & T and SHB Da Nang have the same name of T & T and SHB bank. In this regard, Hien explained: "The name of the Hanoi T&T FC consists of the name of the locality where the FC is based, Hanoi, and the name of its management firm - T & T Sports JSC, not the name of the T & T group. The T & T Group operates in the fields of industry, finance and real estate while the field of operation of T & T Sports JSC is sports. This has been registered with the competent authorities."

According to him, the relationship between T & T Corporation and Ha Noi T & T FC as well as between the SHB Bank and SHB Da Nang club is the relationship between "football teams and sponsors."

This is stipulated in the contract signed between the parties, Hien said. "In the contracts, we have defined the rights and responsibilities of the parties. If the VFF requests, we will make public the contracts and the financial statements of these clubs to prove the independence between these legal entities."

To avoid any misunderstanding of the independence among these entities, Hien outlined the process of divestment from the T & T Sports  JSC and SHB Da Nang.

"As Chairman of the T & T Group and SHB Bank, I will propose and submit to the Board of Directors the plans to withdraw the entire capital of the SHB Bank (11%) and the T & T Group (15%) from the two sports companies. The divestment will complete in September 2012 ," he said.

After the divestment, the relationship between the SHB Bank and T & T Group with SHB Da Nang and Ha Noi T & T FCs will be adjusted through the sponsorship deals signed between the parties.

Football fans doubt Hien

Hien’s explanation that he is not the boss of SHB Da Nang and Ha Noi T & T FCs could not convince VFF and fans.
   
As soon as the football season ends, the issue "a boss runs two football teams" has been brought to discussion by the VFF and the Vietnam Professional Football JS Company (VPF). Both are determined to settle the issue. With the promotion of the Hanoi FC from the First Division Tournament to the V-League, it is said that Hien even has three teams playing in the V-League.

This week, a seminar on the issue will be organized by the VFF, with the presence of the 28 V-League teams and the First Division Tournament. Hien made a move to go ahead. He sent a dispatch to VFF and VPF to deny his management over the SHB Da Nang and Ha Noi T & T FCs.

In addition, he also confirmed that he would propose T & T Group to withdraw capital from the T & T Sports JSC and the SHB Danang Sports JSC. SHB has 11 percent of stakes in SHB Da Nang Sports JSC while T & T Group has 15 percent of stakes in T & T Sports JSC. He also stated that he personally does not sponsor the two sports companies.

With his arguments, Hien confirmed that he's just a normal donor, not a football boss as people think. As the Chairman of both SHB Bank and T & T Group, Hien said he was on behalf of the Board of Directors to sign the collective decision of the Board of Directors by majority rule.

Hien’s explanation cannot convince football fans. Many readers said that this is just the argument of Mr. Hien to fool the VFF and VPF. It is only true on paper but in terms of ownership, Hien is the owner of the both teams. Fans are waiting to see how VFF and VPF to deal with this.

Hien’s denial is not new, but for years no one has believed in it. For many years, he appeared frequently in important matches of the SHB Danang. He also gave “on-the-spot” bonus to players.

Before the new developments, VFF Secretary Ngo Le Bang said VFF had instructed its legal department to consider the case. VFF will send its officials to check the compliance with Clause 3 of Article 19 of the VFF’s Charters at all three teams that have relations with Hien - Ha Noi T & T, SHB Da Nang and Hanoi FC.

The VFF will also ask for the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) intervention. VFF and many fans do not believe in Hien, but it needs a lot of time and effort to clarify black and white.

Compiled by Nam Nguyen