VietNamNet Bridge – The management board of Thanh Hoa FC suspended coach Le Thuy Hai from the match against SHB Da Nang on July 16 for match-fixing doubt.
The suspension was a big surprise because coach Hai was seen as the key for Thanh Hoa FC’s success at this year’s V-League.

Hai has guided the team to the fourth place of V-League and turned Thanh Hoa FC into a potential name for the championship.

Thanh Hoa FC kept secret its decision. It only informed the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

One day before the match against SHB Da Nang, Thanh Hoa FC’s players did not know about the suspension of their coach. Even coach assistant Dam Van Hai, who replaced Hai at the match against SHB Da Nang was not informed before hand.

According to some sources, Hai will be suspended for at least one match, until the doubt about Thanh Hoa FC’s failure in the game vs Song Lam Nghe An is clarified.

In that game, Thanh Hoa FC took the lead 2-1 in the first half. But in the second half, the team performed poorly and became the loser with 3-2, after the coach replaced highly-performed players like halfback Wole and striker Omar by weaker players.

At the nearly end of the game, Thanh Hoa FC’s fans insulted the team’s coaching board and coach Le Thuy Hai for “match-fixing” and cheered the guest team – Song Lam Nghe An. They also threw bottles, etc. to the playground. Police forces were mobilized to force fans from leaving the stadium.

In the press briefing after the game, when a reporter raised doubt of match-making, coach Hai answered: “You told me to make match-fixing? If I did it I would have been very rich!”

After that Thanh Hoa FC’s management board decided to suspend coach Hai. This is the first time in the history of V-League, a coach is suspended for match-fixing doubts.

Thanh Hoa FC will report the case to the VFF this week for investigation.

PV