V-League Shaken by a Wave of On-Field Violence: Retrospective Punishments and the Referees' Responsibility

Vietnamese football is facing one of its darkest periods. Within just a few short days, a wave of on-field violence has occurred repeatedly, raising major questions about discipline in the country's top league. These brutal, intentional fouls aimed at injuring opponents not only damage the image of the V-League but also deal a heavy blow to Vietnam's efforts to build a professional and healthy football environment. The latest incident, and the center of public attention, took place in the match between Dong Nai FC and Hanoi Police FC (CAHN) on September 20. In that match, Dong Nai defender Le Van Son threw a direct elbow at CAHN striker Nguyen Dinh Bac. Immediately after, Dong Nai centre-back Huynh Tan Sinh repeatedly kicked from behind aimed at Dinh Bac's leg. These acts are unacceptable in any professional football league. The notable point is that these ugly situations are not isolated incidents. They occurred shortly after CAHN centre-back Doan Van Hau broke the leg of The Cong Viettel midfielder Doan Ngoc Tan, and Nam Dinh foreign player Ezeqiuel Santos Da Silva stomped on the chest of SHB Da Nang's Vo Huu Viet Hoang. Both of these tackles took place in Round 2 of the 2026-2027 V-League. On-field violence is becoming a systemic problem, something that spreads like a virus. Faced with these serious developments, representatives of the tournament Organising Committee (BTC), VPF, and VFF had a direct meeting with the VFF Referee Committee. The purpose of the meeting was to demand that referees strictly enforce the laws, maintain discipline in the league, and stop violent conduct on the pitch. The phrase 'enforce the laws correctly' in this context can be understood as not allowing missed fouls or missed cards. Indeed, that is exactly the mistake made by referee Le Vu Linh. In the match between Dong Nai FC and CAHN on September 20, in the situation where centre-back Huynh Tan Sinh 'followed through' on Dinh Bac, referee Le Vu Linh only issued a yellow card. This was a highly controversial decision because Tan Sinh had landed as many as two consecutive 'dirty' kicks. Referee Le Vu Linh failed to produce a red card, even though this was an act of deliberate foul play. Speaking to Dan Tri reporters after the match, former VFF Vice President for Professional Affairs and former VFF Referee Committee head Duong Vu Lam voiced sharp criticism. He argued that referee Le Vu Linh had missed a card in this situation. Huynh Tan Sinh's overly blatant follow-through was not punished with a red card, which is unacceptable. Duong Vu Lam also made a very strong point: 'If we retrospectively ban Tan Sinh for this foul, then we must also ban referee Le Vu Linh in a similar manner.' Furthermore, he demanded that the responsibility of the VAR crew be clarified. If the VAR crew, consisting of Vo Hoai Thuong and Nguyen Thanh Son, had advised the main referee but were overruled, then they completed their duty. Conversely, if the VAR crew did not advise the main referee about the need to issue a red card, they must also be disciplined. This is a very thought-provoking issue. The responsibility of referees is extremely important, but sometimes we forget the role of the VAR crew. In modern football, VAR is a powerful supporting tool for the main referee. If both miss a violent incident, that is a double failure of the refereeing system. Usually, specific disciplinary rulings for referees are not publicly announced. Former VFF Referee Committee head Duong Vu Lam revealed that 'just look at the referee list for the following rounds to know whether the relevant referees have been suspended.' If they are not assigned to the rounds adjacent to the one just played, they are likely being disciplined. The suspension of a referee is information that is not widely published, but it is reflected in the referee list in subsequent rounds. This is a fairly subtle way of managing referees in Vietnamese football, serving as both a deterrent and a way to avoid unnecessary controversy about refereeing. This situation shows the immense pressure on V-League referees. They must make correct decisions in situations that happen at very high speed, under pressure from players and fans. However, this cannot be an excuse for serious mistakes. Violent acts in football do not only directly hurt opponents. They also destroy sportsmanship, creating a toxic environment for young players who are learning and dreaming of playing in the top league. It is time for the organisers to take even stronger measures to protect the integrity and attractiveness of the V-League. It would be a tragedy if the V-League becomes increasingly distant from its supporters because of such unsavoury images. Fans come to the stadium to enjoy good matches, witness beautiful plays and great goals, not to watch players deliberately trying to injure each other. On-field violence is a stain that is hard to wash away, a constant and most dangerous threat to the development of a professional football nation. Where does this responsibility lie? With the players who failed to control themselves, with the referees who lacked the courage to make the right decisions, and with the league organisers for failing to create a strong enough disciplinary environment to deter such acts. Football is a sport of passion, but the line between passion and violence is very thin if we do not have timely, severe penalties. Facing these ugly incidents, fans hope that with the intervention of VFF, VPF and the BTC, the referee committee will be tightened, and referees will act more decisively against violent conduct so that the V-League is no longer associated with the 'street market' label. Vietnamese football has good young talents and has played many dedicated matches, but if these 'bad apples' are not cleaned out, the V-League will struggle to develop sustainably. Look at Europe's top leagues. Their success comes not only from money or tactics but also from a disciplined and respectful playing environment. The V-League needs to learn this. Players need to understand that a moment of losing their temper can ruin their career and tarnish the image of the whole league. The meeting between VFF, VPF, BTC and the Referee Committee is only the first step. The core problem lies in mutual respect between players on the pitch. As long as red cards are still withheld in situations like this, violence will continue to have a place in the V-League, and the image of Vietnamese football in the eyes of international friends will only get worse. It is time to act more firmly, more disciplined, and more thoroughly.