VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Professional Football Company (VPF) has invited former Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Van Huong as its security advisor at the Super League 2012 (V-League).


Former Deputy Minister of Public Security, Senior Lieutenant
General Nguyen Van Huong (right) is VPF's security advisor.

VPF confirmed to give priority to ensuring the “integrity” of the Super-League. The most important task will be supervising referees.

VPF General Director Pham Ngoc Vien said that the most important measure is strengthening cooperation between VPF and the Ministry of Public Security.

“We have asked for the assistance of the Agency for Internal Political Security (Ministry of Public Security) to ensure security for the Super League 2012. Former Deputy Minister of Public Security Nguyen Van Huong has agreed to be VPF’s security advisor,” Vien said.

Previously, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) combined with police to prevent match fixing in the national football squad at international football tournaments, for instance the Southeast Asian Games. Police also investigated some corrupted referees.

Football security will become the top priority in the football season 2012. Earlier, VPF dismissed the National Referee Council, which made many mistakes in the previous football season, and replaced it by a referee board. The new board is managed by VFF while the referee supervision board is under VPF. In the previous seasons, both the referee and referee supervision councils were under VFF.

Another solution to prevent corruption among referees has been applied: increasing referees’ income and making it public. Accordingly, a referee can earn $1,500 per month, which is high enough to prevent them from taking bribes.

“FCs will not have to pay fees to referees and referee supervisors to avoid direct contacts between them before football matches. Supervisors, referees and FCs will have to make written commitments against corruption with VPF,” Vien added.

S. Tung