VietNamNet Bridge – Falling under suspicion of committing match-fixing in the recent game between his team, Saigon FC and Song Lam Nghe An, Vietnamese leading goalkeeper Tan Truong, has stated to be willing to cooperate with investigators to prove his innocence.



The goalkeeper said on April 26 that he was very tired after being suspected of committing match-fixing and being offered for sale by his team.

“My family feels worried for me. I’m responsible to make clear the case to make my family to feel secure and to make my fans to understand that I’m innocent,” Truong said.

The goalkeeper said that he had not been summoned by police and confirmed that he was willing to cooperate with investigators, hoping that his innocence to be proved as soon as possible.

Explaining about his unstable performance in recent games, Truong said: “I do not deny the fact that I did not play very well recently because of family reasons and non-football activities. If I have a chance to play in the second phase of V-League, I will try my best to be admitted to the national squad to prepare for the AFF Cup later this year.”

The dispatch sent by the chief of the security division of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) to Saigon FC says: “There are suspicious opinions and information about goalkeeper Tan Truong and some player of Saigon FC who showed unstable performance and abnormal signs in recent matches. Especially, in the game between Saigon FC and Song Lam Nghe An, goalkeeper Tan Truong made serious mistakes in the last minutes, which affected the results of the match. There is doubt of having an organized match-fixing ring that makes impacts on the results of Saigon FC’s games.”

The security division asked Saigon FC to explain the case of Tan Truong and some other players. The case will be then reported to the Ministry of Public Security.

The division also requested Saigon FC to facilitate Tan Truong and some players to work with investigators in the coming time.

Saigon FC’s Chair Nguyen Duc Thuy said that the club would forward the explanation report to the security division today, April 27. “We warmly support VFF and VPF (Vietnam Professional Football JS Company which runs the V-League) to invite police to make clear the suspicion,” he said.

Saigon FC has decided to not reject Tan Truong from the list of players for the second phase of V-League 2012. However, the goalkeeper will not play football until his innocence is proved.

S. Tung