HA NOI (VNS)— V-League 2013 will begin on March 3 with 12 teams, two less than last year, said the Viet Nam Professional Football Company (VPF).

Three football clubs were dismissed because they failed to meet the financial demands of the organisers.

Meanwhile the national under-22 team was added into the tournament to give them more chance to compete in preparation for the 27th Southeast Asian Games later next year.

"We have strongly agreed on improving V-League quality and creating more competitions for the U22 team with a view to re-building Viet Nam's football fame at the SEA Games," said Vo Quoc Thang, VPF chairman.

"We have asked the National Sports Administration and the Viet Nam Football Federation to summon the team's members in January in preparation for the V-League."

Teams will play a two-leg round-robin format over 22 rounds with a total of 132 matches. No team will be relegated this season.

"To encourage teams to play better and stronger, VPF will award VND10 billion (US$47,600), three times more than last year, to the winner of the competition. The two runners-up will receive VND3 billion and VND1 billion each," Thang said.

The First Division tournament will start on March 2, one day earlier than the V-League.

The VPF said 10 teams would compete this season for a bonus of VND2 billion for the winners.

First Division teams will also play a two-leg round-robin format over 18 rounds with a total of 90 matches. There will be no relegation this year, but the top team will be promoted to the V-League next season.

The Super Cup match between the 2012 V-League champion SHB Da Nang and the 2012 National Cup winner Sai Gon Xuan Thanh, will be played at the opening of both competitions on February 23.

The National Cup 2013 will be one day later. — VNS