VietNamNet Bridge - Coach Hoang Van Phuc and his U23 team had 13 losing games but after the extraordinary draw against Bangu Atletico yesterday, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) suspended Phuc last night.

Coach Hoang Van Phuc was suspended last night.

After Vietnam’s failure at the 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup, Phuc was appointed as the coach of the national team and the U23 squad since January 2013. However, one month before the 27th SEA Games, the most important event of the year, the VFF suspended the coach for the bad attitude of his players at the ongoing BTV Cup 2013.

This decision shocked all U23 Vietnam members, who are participating in the tournament in Binh Duong province. A player said the team received the news at 10pm yesterday and they were shocked at the VFF’s quick decision.

According to the decision, the VFF Secretary General Ngo Le Bang will replace Nguyen Hai Tung as the chief of U23 squad and Chairman of the National Coaching Council – Mr. Nguyen Sy Hien - is invited as the team’s advisor.

Coach Phuc is temporarily suspended and replaced by his assistant – Mr. Phung Thanh Phuong - until the end of the BTV Cup 2013.

U23 Vietnam had a terrible 3-3 draw match yesterday and some people raised questions about this game.

On November 1, U23 Vietnam will face the South Korean students’ team in the semi-final.

Nam Nguyen