Football
Thanh Hà
HÀ NỘI Tô Huyền Anh was over the moon when her beloved Hà Nội FC took the lead against Nam Định in a V.League 1 match at Hàng Đẫy Stadium.
Her joy turned to despair after she was hit by a flare thrown from the opposite stand by a Nam Định’s fan that seriously injured her thigh. Anh was rushed to the hospital and spent all night in surgery.
Doctors have said she needs to stay in intensive care and will be in hospital for at least half a month.
Flares at football matches aren't a new problem in Viet Nam, but injuries from flares are.
“It is the first time such a serious problem has happened in our football history. We are all really sorry for the supporter,” said Cao Văn Chóng, vice president of the Việt Nam Football Federation (VFF).
Chóng said the VFF and the Việt Nam Professional Football Company (VPF), which runs the tournament, work together to ensure security for all matches. Flares isare often discussed among officials, clubs’ leaders as well as stadiums’ managers to avoid such incidents.
Disappointed to be down 1-4 to the home team after just 55 minutes, Nam Định supporters lit many flares and threw them onto the field.
Referee Ngô Duy Lân stopped the match for 15 minutes to protect the players, but no one was able to shield the fans.
Despite efforts from the stadium’s managers, security and police, flares continued to rain down and one hit Anh.
“It has gone too far this time. It is a destructive activity,” said Vũ Xuân Thành, head of the VFF’s Discipline Department.
“It is more dangerous than any violent activity in the VFF’s regulations. It also hurts the image of national football. The clubs have been heavily fined and the VFF has invited the police to investigate the culprit.”
Hàng Đẫy has long had problems with flares. Among five fines related to flares this season, Hàng Đẫy was the scene for three. Five months ago, Ha Noi FC were fined of VNĐ70 million (US$3,000) over flares let off during a match against Hải Phòng. A supporters ban for the capital club was considered but they escaped.
Sorry not enough
After the incident, managers and coaches of Hà Nội and Nam Định as well as the head of the Nam Định Supporters Club visited Anh to apologise.
At the same time, many explanations and excuses were offered.
“VPF officials came to work on security with Hà Nội but they did not carry out (the plan). In other stadiums they have done good job Hà Nội are irresponsible,” said VPF General Director Trần Anh Tú.
VPF reports showed that the match organising committee and their security team did not work well together or follow the plan agreed between the VPF, Hà Nội Police and the Mobile Police High Command.
They did not set up gates so many fans brought flares into the stadium without difficulty. There were too few security guards while the match organisers put the Nam Địns fans in an inappropriate position.
“Supporters have many ways to hide the flares and other things. We don't have a suitable solution to check them, especially female fans, carefully,” said Hà Nội FC President Nguyễn Quốc Hội.
“On security, mostly we depend on city police while our own guards take care of ticket checking because of limited personnel.
“It’s our mistake as we could not carry out discussed plans because at the same time Hà Nội also hosted other political events and the number of police here was not enough to ensure security,” said Hội.
Coach Nguyễn Văn Dũng of Nam Định said that no real supporter would do such a terrible thing. It was someone who wants to destroy football, people’s lives and his team’s prestige.
More action needed
Hà Nội and Nam Định were both fined VNĐ85 million for the flares. While Hà Nội's final two league matches must be played in front of no fans, Nam Định’s fans are not allowed to attend the sides next two away fixtures.
However, more action is needed to fix the problem.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has asked the VFF and VPF to have ensure the safety of matches. Cameras must be installed on the stands, tournament’s and matches’ organisers must review to ensure good security plans and no safety means no match.
Chairman of Hà Nội’s People Committee Nguyễn Đức Chung asked city police to work on the case.
Coach Nguyễn Công Tuấn of Hà Nội appealed to people to follow their team in a healthy way.
“We have to accept the ban although it is a disadvantage for our supporters. However, I want them to do help eliminate flares as well as other violent activities in football,” he said. VNS
OVietnam