NINH BINH (VNS) — The Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) decided to suspend Ninh Binh's nine players yesterday due to their alleged involvement in a recent match-fixing scandal, and banned them from playing at any activity organised by the national football governing body.

The suspension took effect yesterday and will be valid until the VFF makes a decision.

As reported, players gambled about US$48,600 on a match between their team and the Malaysian side Kelantan during a group round of the Asian Football Confederation Cup in March. Their team won 3-2 and they pocketed around $38,000.

All of them were prosecuted. While seven are still out on bail, goalkeeper Nguyen Manh Dung and midfielder Tran Manh Dung, considered the masterminds, have been in jail for about two weeks. — VNS