VietNamNet Bridge – Immediately after inspectors of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST) stated that the 20-year telecast deal between the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and AVG Group is legal on February 16, the Vietnam Professional Football (VPF), which manages Vietnam’s professional soccer leagues, expressed its unsatisfaction.


Mr. Nguyen Duc Kien.

Nguyen Duc Kien, VPF vice board chairman told local media on February 16 afternoon, said that VPF was frustrated at the MoCST’s conclusion, and that it would lodge an appeal to the Prime Minister again or even bring this TV rights battle to court.

Kien said that after the meeting of VPF management board today, February 17, VPF would report the case to the Prime Minister.

According to the MoCST, VFF had conducted all necessary legal procedures before signing the contract with AVG, so the latter would be fully entitled to the telecast rights over the country’s top soccer leagues from now on.

After the MoCST made the announcement, VFF has asked VPF, FCs and broadcasters to seriously respect the contract. The federation also asked related state management agencies to involve ensuring the validity of the deal.

VPF, which was set up by VFF and 28 league clubs, said that the contract had been illegitimately signed as the federation had not obtained written approval from the clubs, which it said co-owned the TV rights.

It said that the contract term was unusually long and thus would not benefit Vietnam’s soccer in the long term.

Previously, the Ministry of Justice had confirmed that the agreement was legally valid. The Prime Minister once stepped in to help settle this battle last month following an appeal from VPF, but it has lingered on ever since.

S.Tung