Livid HCMC FC players, referees clash after intense V. League draw

By Lam Thoa   April 12, 2021 | 11:57 pm PT
HCMC FC players called out referees over dubious extra time following a league game Monday, prompting police intervention.
HCMC FC players surround the referees after the V. League match with Thanh Hoa FC on April 12, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Lam Thoa.

HCMC FC players surround the referees after the V. League match with Thanh Hoa FC on April 12, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Lam Thoa.

After the final whistle blew in the V. League game between Thanh Hoa FC and HCMC FC, players from the latter, alongside coaching staff, accused match referees of allowing a dubious amount of extra time, giving Thanh Hoa a chance to equalize in the very last seconds.

The referees gave Luis Viegas Filipe, HCMC's Brazilian assistant manager, a red card before officers escorted the former out of the stadium.

In the post-match interview, HCMC head coach Mano Polking said: "That freekick wasn't supposed to happen, the referees just wanted to give the other team more of a chance."

At the end of the second half, the match referee allowed five additional minutes of extra time. In the last seconds, a HCMC foul scored Thanh Hoa a free kick, netted thanks to a header by Trinh Van Loi in the sixth added minute.

The mobile police officers escort the referees out of the stadium. Photo by VnExpress/Lam Thoa.

Police officers escort referees out of the stadium. Photo by VnExpress/Lam Thoa.

"HCMC would have won the game. I'm not happy at all with the referee's decision to give Thanh Hoa a free kick with only a few seconds left in the game," Polking said.

The match saw many fouls and rough play from both sides, with Vietnamese-American midfielder Lee Nguyen scoring in the 85th minute for HCMC.

Thanh Hoa manager Ljupko Petrovic had no problem with the call.

"It was clearly a free kick. Both the main referee and his assistant agreed. I see no problem here," Petrovic said.

After nine rounds of V. League 2021, HCMC stands in 11th with 10 points, while Thanh Hoa is in ninth position with one point more.

 
 
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