The Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) on Tuesday decided to reduce Tran Dinh Dong's ban of Song Lam Nghe An to November 1 instead of December 31.

Dong requested the ban be lessened because of his good attitude to the VFF. The decision means Dong can play for Nghe An in the upcoming National Sports Games.

Dong was banned for 28 games and fined VND20 million (US$950) after a violent attack left midfielder Nguyen Anh Hung of Hung Vuong An Giang with a broken leg in the Vietnamese top flight in March.

It was the most severe punishment handed down to a football player in the history of the VFF.

VNS/VNN