High regard: Referee Hoang Anh Tuan (right) has been invited to control a Thai Football Association Cup semi-final. Vietnamese football officials in overseas federations have been gaining respect. — File Photo

HA NOI (VNS)— Vietnamese referees are becoming popular internationally. Tomorrow, Hoang Anh Tuan from Ha Noi will conduct a semi-final match for the Thai Football Association Cup.

Tuan will be assisted by Nguyen Hoang Minh from Dong Nai and Chau Duc Thanh from Can Tho.

On Sunday, Thanh and colleagues Vo Quang Vinh, Phung Dinh Dung and Tran Thanh Liem returned home from a Filipino tournament after conducting three matches.

Earlier in September, FIFA referee Vo Minh Tri successfully took part in three matches for the China Super League. His next match in Guangzhou City will also be held tomorrow.

"Viet Nam football is strongly respected in the region. Our referees rarely made mistakes during their work at the AFC Cup and Champions Cup as well as other regional and continental tournaments." said Duong Vu Lam, head of Viet Nam Football Federation's Referee Council and deputy chairman of the Southeast Asian Football Federation.

"That nearly 10 referees have been invited to work abroad has proved their quality and also helped to increase their prestige in the world."

At the end of this week, the nation's top 19 referees, seven assistants and four women's referees will take part in a training course to update their knowledge and skills.

The course will be led by Subkhiddin Mohd Salleh, a former Malaysian FIFA referee who took part in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. — VNS