The V. League is again facing a crisis with FLC Thanh Hoa president threatening to walk out with his team if the eight-match ban against captain Pape Omar Faye is not revoked.

The Senegalese striker was banned after he made a rude gesture to spectators when he was being sent off in a match against Sanna Khánh Hòa on January 14.

“I know the pressure that the organisers and the Discipline Department (of the Việt Nam Football Federation) face after problems recently concerning football violence and behaviour. However, it is not right to fine my player so heavily to satisfy the public,” President Trịnh Văn Quyết said.

Quyết said Faye was an easy and level-headed player and it was a sudden reaction in the match as he was consecutively brought down by Khánh Hòa defenders and the referees did not react to save him.

He also quoted some football experts such as Lê Thụy Hải and Trịnh Minh Huế who said that while Faye was at fault, Khánh Hòa players were equally to blame.

“As a result, the Discipline Department’s ban on Faye alone is unfair, over the top, and has followed no rule. Under these circumstances, I think we should review our participation in the V. League. We play football with determination and enthusiasm, and we spend a lot of money on it, but we have received disappointment and unfairness,” Quyết said.

In the past too, many teams, such as Hòa Phát Hà Nội, Vissai Ninh Bình, Kiên Giang and Hải Phòng, have threatened to stop playing voicing their dissatisfaction with certain decisions of the organisers.

Speaking with reporters, General Director Cao Văn Chóng of the Việt Nam Professional Football Company (VPF), which manages the league, said the threat from Thanh Hoá was not serious.

Chóng said VFP appreciated the brave decision and sense of justice of the Discipline Department. It had followed the new policy of the organisers from the beginning of the season. Thanh Hóa could voice their complaint if they were not satisfied.

“I used to manage a club, so I understand the feelings of players when they receive a heavy ban. But from the VPF side, we do not expect teams to quit for any reason. It is not a professional act,” Chóng said.

“We discussed the rules and teams which join the tournament should follow it. If they want to quit we have to accept that but still follow the rule. It takes only 15 minutes to rearrange the competition schedule,” he said.

Thanh Hóa are on top of the ranking table with three wins from three matches. They faced no difficulty in beating Long An 2-1 without Faye on Wednesday.

Thanh Hóa win third match in V.League

FLC Thanh Hóa completed their first hat trick of the season, after winning the V.League’s third match yesterday, by defeating Long An 2-1 on their home turf.

The result strengthens their first place position in the ranking table, with a perfect nine points.

It was not a difficult match for the hosts, although their captain, Omar, could not take part due to his being banned from eight matches, while three other regular players, Ngô Hoàng Thịnh and Nguyễn Tăng Tuấn, could not play due to injuries.

Still, they dominated the game from the beginning with consecutive attacks to Long An’s goalkeeper Nguyễn Minh Nhật.

Lê Quốc Phương, Nguyễn Trọng Hoàng and Đinh Tiến Thành tested Nhật’s skills with both long- and short-distance kicks, but their finishes were not strong enough to score goals.

Uche Iheruome opened the scoring at the 63rd minute with a powerful header, after he received a pass from Phương on the left wing.

Three minutes later, the score was doubled for the hosts when Hoàng Văn Bình broke into the penalty area and his left-leg finish found the net.

Long An pushed up their front line and narrowed the score five minutes before the end.

Hoàng Danh Ngọc’s long kick touched the ground then changed direction and beat keeper Nguyễn Thanh Thắng, who failed to react to save his goal.

Another host, Hải Phòng, also enjoyed victory when they defeated Quảng Ninh Coal 2-0 in a match that was considered a derby of the Northeast region.

Hải Phòng’s Lạch Tray Stadium has been a difficult venue for all teams, and yesterday was no different for National Super Cup winner Quảng Ninh.

Just two minutes into the game, Quảng Ninh’s fans were silent, as they witnessed Errol Anthony Stevens’ perfect solo performance from the right wing before sending a ball to Nguyễn Đình Bảo, who tapped it in from close range. Goalkeeper Huỳnh Tuấn Linh successfully saved the net for the visitors.

Hải Phòng played an exciting game yesterday, as their motivated players threatened Linh with numberless attempts, and they found the winning results at the 18th mark.

Stevens did not make any mistakes, as his canon shot assured that Linh had no chance.

The hosts’ second foreign striker, Fagan, made his trade during the early second half with a tap into the box.

Quảng Ninh fought back, and also created their own opportunities, but failed to score a single goal.

It was a day for the hosts, as Hà Nội FC also won. They beat Hoàng Anh Gia Lai 3-0 at Hàng Đẫy Stadium.

Hoàng Anh Gia Lai made several changes, as their key striker, Nguyễn Công Phượng, was pulled down to play as a midfielder, while his teammate Nguyễn Văn Toàn was placed highest in the front line.

But these changes did not help. Phượng could not find his first goal of the season, while his team suffered an early goal in the ninth minute by Hoàng Vũ Samson, who made it 2-0 just two minutes after the interval.

The third goal went to Alvaro Linares Silva, whose shot was too strong to be stopped at the 58th minute.

Hoàng Anh Gia Lai had almost no plan against the defending champions. Their only on-target shot belonged to 2016’s best young player, Vũ Văn Thanh, near the end of the first half.

The win pushed Hà Nội to the second position, with six points, while Hoàng Anh Gia Lai stayed at the bottom, with three losses in a row.

In the City-derby, the latest match in the third round HCM City saw Sài Gòn FC defeated 1-0, with the only goal scored by Victor Manuel Ormazabal in the 38th minute.

Earlier, former champions SHB Đà Nẵng drew 1-1 with neighbouring Quảng Nam FC. Two-time winners Sông Lam Nghệ An tied 2-2 against Sanna Khánh Hòa. And Becamex Bình Dương defeated Cần Thơ 5-1.

The fourth round will be held on Sunday, after which, the teams will enjoy a 20-day break to celebrate the Lunar New Year with families.

VNS