Blame game: Viet Nam Football Federation General Secretary Tran Quoc Tuan has tendered his regisnation. — VNA/VNS Photo Ngoc Truong

HA NOI — Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) general secretary Tran Quoc Tuan has tendered his resignation.

Having been in the position for six years, he said that he would return to work at the National Sports Administration if his request was approved.

An anonymous administration official called on people to respect Tuan's decision as he had suffered a lot of pressure following Viet Nam's humiliating under-23 defeat at the 26th SEA Games in Indonesia last month.

As team head, Tuan had made very little impact at the tournament at which Viet Nam failed to reach the finals while also losing 1-4 to Myanmar in the third-place play-offs.

At a subsequent VFF meeting, Tuan blamed the country's bad performance on the sub-par efforts of the whole delegation.

Administration leaders have said they were considering giving Tuan a suitable job by which to bring into play his knowledge and experience.

Before taking up his post at the VFF in 2005, to which he was re-elected four years later by Chairman Nguyen Trong Hy, Tuan was vice director of the Institute for Science and Sports Medicine.

Tuan will continue his role as Viet Nam's representative at the ASEAN Football Federation and the Asian Football Confederation until the end of his specified terms.

During his term in office Tuan has led the national team in competing at the AFF Cup 2010 and three consecutive SEA Games, but without winning any gold medals.

According to VFF regulations, only its Chairman has the right to appoint or relieve a person for the general secretary position. — VNS