HA NOI — Audio Vision Global Company (AVG) has rejected the demands of the Viet Nam Professional Football Company (VPF) following an offical document published on Tuesday.

AVG disagreed with a decision by VPF that would allow Viet Nam Television (VTV) to monopolise broadcast rights of professional Vietnamese football matches. They currently plan to co-operate with VTV and Viet Nam Television Corporation (VTC) to buy and sell broadcast rights if Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) accepts the proposal.

In response to VPF's requirement for an increase in the value of the contract, AVG promised they would discuss the issue with VTV and VTC before offering a final answer. However, the contract would be sent to VFF, not VPF.

AVG said they would not follow other VPF demands which would require handing over all broadcast rights to VPF.

The company said it would only negotiate with VPF if it met the following legal conditions. First, if VFF signed a contract granting VPF the authority to exploit the broadcast rights of Vietnamese professional football tournaments and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism approved reformed and additional professional football regulations, and

Second, if VPF acknowledged and committed to respecting the signed contract between AVG and VFF about trading broadcast rights of professional league matches during the 2011-30 period.

VPF Chairman Vo Quoc Thang said he was disappointed with the AVG's document because they had not changed their point of view after a three-hour meeting on February 21.

"Following the 20-year contract between AVG and VFF, clubs receive from tens of millions of dong to more than VND100 million (US$4,800) for each broadcast. Compared to the tens of billions of dong invested each year, what do club chairmen receive?" he said. "Broadcast rights are the main source of revenue for professional football teams. If this continues, who will dare to invest in football?"

Thang added that VPF would continue to appeal the contract terms.

VFF Chairman Nguyen Trong Hy said their staff had presented a draft contract to hand over the rights to VPF. "The contract is very complicated and we have to wait for opinions from the ministry's legislation department. VFF and VPF need to discuss the situation next week," he said. — VNS