Courtesy: VietNamNet Bridge

Three fined futsallers plead innocent

16/01/2008

Three players punished by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) on January 14 sent a petition to the Minister of Culture – Sports – Tourism.

VFF on January 9 decided to fine three players of the men’s national futsal team for breaking VFF rules before the 24th SEA Games.

According to VFF, Tran Trung Kien, Nguyen Bao Quan and Le Tuan Tu didn’t obey the federation’s call to play for the national futsal team at the recent 24th SEA Games and they will have to pay fines of VND10 million each. VFF has also banned them from playing football for one year. They also have to refund expenses for meals, accommodations, bonuses and transport fees that VFF provided and paid them during their training time with the national squad last year.

In their petition, the three players wrote: “On November 8, 2007, we were called up to prepare for the 24th SEA Games. Everything took place normally till the coaching board finalized the list of players. We questioned the board about the case of player Quoc Trung.

Trung is a member of the U19 The Cong team who was recommended to the national futsal team by Coach Hong Son. This player was then rejected by Chief Coach Nguyen Van Long, while Coach Hong Son was in Germany. Trung didn’t make the original roster in time. He instead came on November 12 with coach Hong Son, who had just returned from Germany and his name was on the final list, released on November 19.

The coaching board explained that Trung was chosen because he performed well but he had never played an official futsal match and had been rejected from the national futsal team. Regardless, after just one week practicing they said he performed well.

The coaching board told reporters that Trung was added to the team because player Minh Tuan of Hanoi was rejected. This was totally wrong. The truth is, after we complained to coach Nguyen Huu Bang about the case of Quoc Trung, Bang apologized to us and said nothing could be done.

We still didn’t agree because the coaching board still had time to modify. Bang asked us “who can replace Quoc Trung?” And we said, “That’s up to the coaching board.”

Coach Hong Son met with Tuan Tu several time to convince Tu to agree with the coaching board’s decision. However, for the achievement of the team, we didn’t agree. Before the team went to Thailand, the coaching board and coach Bang told us if we didn’t agree with their decision, we could submit a petition and the coaching board would allow us to not go to Thailand.

When the three received their punishment decisions, they were very surprised. “Why are we to blame for the failure of the national futsal team?” they asked.

“We didn’t break the rules. We were allowed to leave,” they wrote.

The Dilmah Tea Club, the host team of the three, sent a dispatch to VFF saying it violated its own rules and the club doesn’t agree with the federation’s decision.





Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com