My Dinh hosted the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in May this year and is currently slated to host the Vietnam and Malaysia AFF Cup Group B second round match next week.
But both My Dinh’s pitch and goal posts have been criticized as sub-standard and dilapidated.
During a November 30 match between Vietnam and Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, the goal’s crossbar was knocked off the post by a Vietnamese penalty shot in the 86th minute.
A representative from Vietnam’s General Department of Sports said Saturday that the My Dinh Stadium goal set meets international standards.
The goal post malfunction has been blamed on improper installation by My Dinh field technicians.
Other experts have also pointed out that the faulty goal contains an erroneous metal joint on the back of the vertical post.
The department and the Vietnam Football Federation have ordered the My Dinh Stadium Management Board to replace the goal entirely to avoid injury to players.
The pitch at My Dinh Stadium has also caused ire. Its withered look and yellow hue, blamed by Vietnam officials on cold weather, hardly appear up to par.
The My Dinh Stadium management board has announced that it will do everything in its power to have the pitch a consistent green by the time Vietnam and Malaysia play each other at 7:30 p.m. on December 27.
Vietnam team leader midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai (R, 3rd) and his compatriots gear up for their next clash against Malaysia’s top-notch platoon. The Vietnam squad’s biggest star is recently back from the injured list.
Vietnam’s rough and tumble crew train in preparation for their clash against battle-hardened Malaysia. Fans from Hanoi to Saigon are optimistic after their hometown heroes’ 6-0 annihilation of neighboring Laos last week. However, rivals Malaysia also dominated the underdogs from Laos 5-0 on Saturday.
