HA NOI — The Ministry of Justice has affirmed that the contract between the Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) and the Audio Vision Global Company (AVG) is valid.

By researching current laws on civil, commerce, the ministry sees the 20-year deal between VFF and AVG is legal.

Based on the Ministry of Justice's decision, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism inspection team sent a preliminary conclusion to the VFF affirming the validity of the contract.

The final results of an inspection into this contract will be released today.

However, insiders said the fight on exclusive broadcasting contracts between the Viet Nam Professional Football Company (VPF), the current operator of Viet Nam's top flight tournament, and VFF-AVG was not over.

Nguyen Duc Kien, vice chairman of VPF, recently said his company would take the case as far as it could if the inspection team did not find in its favour.

"We would consider petitioning the Government Inspectorate," he said.

The VFF signed a 20-year contract with AVG for the 2011-30 period and recently released an official document stating that AVG has all broadcasting rights for national football tournaments.

However when taking charge of the championship last December, the VPF said the right belonged to them.

There has been on-going dispute between AVG and VPF as to exactly what happened. — VNS