The Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) has asked the Ha Noi Joint Stock Football Company to suspend its chairman Nguyen Duc Kien until an investigation into financial irregularities has been concluded.

They have also asked the company to appoint a new chairman to replace him before next Tuesday.

Kien, who owns Ha Noi FC and Ha Noi Youth FC, was arrested for allegedly illegal financial activities.

VFF chairman Nguyen Trong Hy said they would try their best to help the two clubs and protect the players' interests.

Before his arrest, Kien was a deputy chairman of the Viet Nam Professional Joint Stock Football Company (VPF), the main organiser of professional Vietnamese football tournaments. At present, General Director Pham Ngoc Vien and Chairman Vo Quoc Thang have taken over Kien's role.-VNS