V-League 2026-2027 faces risk of on-field violence: VPF and VFF demand referees strictly apply the law

In less than three rounds of the 2026-2027 V-League season, Vietnamese football has witnessed too many violent scenes that worry fans. The match between Dong Nai and CAHN on September 20 was not just intense but also featured a series of unsportsmanlike actions. Defender Le Van Son elbowed striker Nguyen Dinh Bac. Then center-back Huynh Tan Sinh kicked the CAHN player straight in the leg while the referee was watching. The notable issue is that referee Le Vu Linh only showed a yellow card, causing frustration after the final whistle. The context becomes even more serious when looking back at round 2. In the match between CAHN and The Cong Viettel, center-back Doan Van Hau broke the leg of midfielder Doan Ngoc Tan. Around the same time, Nam Dinh foreign player Ezeqiuel Santos Da Silva stamped on the stomach of SHB Da Nang player Vo Huu Viet Hoang. In just a moment, Vietnamese football was surrounded by controversy about rough play and even intentional injuries. Faced with anger from fans, representatives of VFF, VPF and V-League organizing committee met directly with the VFF Referee Board. The meeting was not just a reminder. They demanded referees strictly apply the law and maintain discipline to stop violent behavior. In football, when a league holds an urgent meeting about refereeing, it is a sign that the system has problems. Referee Le Vu Linh was the name mentioned most. In the match, Huynh Tan Sinh deliberately kicked Nguyen Dinh Bac twice after the ball was gone. This is not a normal challenge. It is a deliberate kick on the opponent and must be punished with a direct red card under the Laws of the Game. Huynh Tan Sinh did it twice. Referee Le Vu Linh only gave one yellow card. Former VFF vice president for professional football and former head of the VFF Referee Board Duong Vu Lam told Dan Tri reporter after the match: “Referee Le Vu Linh missed a card in this situation. Huynh Tan Sinh's kick was too obvious but he did not receive a red card.” This comment from a person with great influence in the refereeing community shows that the mistake was clear. Duong Vu Lam also raised the responsibility of the VAR team, including Vo Hoai Thuong and Nguyen Thanh Son. If they advised the main referee to use a red card but he refused, the VAR team completed their duty. But if they stayed silent and gave no advice, they also had to face disciplinary action. This logic is clear because VAR is the third eye; no one can say they did not see the incident in a system with VAR. A bigger question is why referees are still not deterred by strict sanctions. Usually, disciplinary decisions for referees are rarely made public. Duong Vu Lam said that people only need to check the list of referees in the next rounds to know who is suspended. If a referee disappears in the following rounds, it is likely they are being disciplined. This shows Vietnamese football still lacks a transparent disciplinary system for referees. Secret handling may save face but does not create enough deterrence. On-field violence does not appear naturally. It is the product of an environment where players do not trust the fairness of referees, and referees do not trust the protection of the organizers. When a player sees a violent act only punished with a yellow card, they learn to test the limits. When referees see colleagues make big mistakes without public punishment, they have no motivation to improve. That is a vicious cycle. Many people will say that players need heavier punishments, and that is true. But looking at the root, the issue is not only the players but also the attitude of the referees. The actions of Le Van Son and Huynh Tan Sinh are clearly wrong, but it was the referee who allowed chaos to begin. If a child does wrong without punishment, they will keep doing wrong. Football is the same. Referees are the ones who keep order on the pitch. When the keeper of order ignores mistakes, players will grow up thinking violence is acceptable. We also need to look at the concept of post-match disciplinary action. It is useful to correct mistakes, but it should not become a lifebuoy for referees. If a referee is wrong, punishing the player is necessary, but the referee also needs to face consequences. Duong Vu Lam said directly: “If Tan Sinh is suspended for this foul, then referee Le Vu Linh must also be suspended.” If such a decision is enforced, it sends a powerful message: no one is above the rules, including referees. Notably, after the urgent meeting, VPF and VFF have not announced specific sanctions yet. Fans may wait for the next rounds. But waiting is not a solution. Football changes with every match, and the law must be applied on the pitch, not in the meeting room. When a referee does not have the courage to show a red card, the organizers need to protect a correct decision. When a referee makes a mistake, there must be a quick correction mechanism. For players, it is necessary to distinguish between aggressive play and violence. Aggressive play means fighting for the ball with strength and smart decisions. Violence means intentionally hurting the opponent. In the two notable incidents in round 2, Doan Van Hau and Ezeqiuel Santos Da Silva both made tackles that crossed the safe limit. Breaking an opponent's leg cannot be justified by the word commitment. Stamping on an opponent's stomach cannot be called aggressive play. These actions need to be removed from Vietnamese football. Another factor is the role of the media. When a violent scene occurs, video clips spread very quickly on social media. Fans can see everything more clearly than referees. This creates pressure on the organizers. But that pressure is necessary. Without public pressure, incidents like Huynh Tan Sinh's kick could be classified as normal contact. In top European leagues, referees are a well-protected part. They have technology, VAR, strong physical and mental foundations. If a referee makes a serious mistake, they are demoted or suspended. V-League should learn this, not to please fans, but to protect the players who are playing their best. There is a principle I always keep: “Every number is a testimony. My job is to make them unable to lie.” In the Dong Nai – CAHN match, the video is undeniable testimony. Three yellow cards? No. That must be a red card. Hopefully VFF, VPF and the Referee Board will look at that testimony and make a decision not only for this match but for the whole season. Vietnamese football has always been proud of its passion and dedication. But passion does not mean losing control. Discipline is what creates the true value of a professional league. Without early correction, V-League will keep paying the price with its image, fans' trust, and worse, the safety of players who give everything every week. The question for the organizers is not only which player will be punished after this round. The bigger question is: how can such challenges ever be allowed to exist on V-League pitches? The answer lies in giving referees power, protecting them, and making them accountable when they do wrong. Only then does the phrase “strictly apply the law” truly mean something.