Veteran Vietnamese-Nigerian striker gets multiple bans for violent play

By Lam Thoa   March 31, 2021 | 07:14 pm PT
Veteran Vietnamese-Nigerian striker gets multiple bans for violent play
Hoang Vu Samson (R) kicks Nguyen Tuan Manh in the thigh during a V. League match between Thanh Hoa FC and SHB Da Nang on March 29, 2021. Photo courtesy of Vietnam Football JSC.
Hoang Vu Samson has attracted the wrath of his club, Thanh Hoa FC, and the Vietnam Football Federation for making some vicious tackles in recent V. League games.

The VFF suspended the Nigerian-Vietnamese striker for three V. League matches and fined him VND15 million ($645) on Wednesday for kicking SHB Da Nang goalkeeper Nguyen Tuan Manh in the thigh in a game on Monday.

In the previous two games his tackles on Hanoi FC’s Bui Hoang Viet Anh tore an eyelid and on Than Quang Ninh’s Doan Viet Anh required three stitches on the face.

A few hours after the VFF’s move, Thanh Hoa decided to ban Samson from first-team football for the rest of the season. He is only allowed to play with the youth team.

Thanh Hoa owner Cao Tien Doan said Wednesday: "Samson is the best player in the club. However, he can't play like this. You need to have morality in addition to talent. Though Thanh Hoa have lost three games in a row, we cannot tolerate violent behavior on the field. Samson's punishment will be a lesson for other players."

Samson's contract with the club expires at the end of the season, but it seems unlikely to be extended.

The 32-year-old has earlier played for a number of clubs like Than Quang Ninh, Dong Thap FC, Hanoi FC, and Quang Nam FC.

In 2011 he was signed by Spanish giant Atletico Madrid but could not join due to a previous agreement with Hanoi FC.

Over his 14 years in Vietnam Samson became the most prolific scorer in V. League history with 201 goals.

Also on Wednesday the VFF handed out a similar penalty to Nam Dinh FC’s Pham The Hung for stamping a Saigon FC player on the knee: three games’ suspension and a fine of VND15 million.

Last week the VFF suspended Ngo Hoang Thinh of HCMC FC for the rest of 2021 for a horrendous tackle on Hanoi FC’s Do Hung Dung that broke his leg.

 
 
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