Vietnamese Football Player Receives 8-Match Suspension for Attacking Assistant Referee

He had to face the consequences for his actions, as eight matches were suspended for attacking an assistant referee after a game that he had lost earlier this week. His irresponsible behaviour led to dire consequences and he had to pay the price for it.

The 31-year-old Nguyen Van Quyet recently achieved a tremendous feat after claiming the prestigious Vietnam Golden Ball award for the second time in February this year. However, he was subsequently fined VND40 million (equivalent to US$1,703).

Quyet, a Hanoi FC player, attacked assistant referee Nguyen Le Nguyen Thanh after his team lost 1-3 to Topenland Binh Dinh in the seventh round of the 2023 V-League 1 on Monday. The V-League 1 is the top professional football league in Vietnam. Quyet, who was clearly frustrated by the result, lashed out at the referee in a shocking display of aggression. The incident has sparked outrage among football fans and authorities alike, with many calling for severe punishment for the player.

Assistant referee Thanh affirmed that Quyet thrust his elbow into the chest of his opponent, resulting in difficulty breathing, according to news site VnExpress.

The Hanoi FC striker and captain was swiftly given a red card on the field.

One day later, Quyet made a phone call to Thanh to apologize and also publicly issued an apology on social media, VnExpress reported.

For further punishments, the tournament organizers compiled notes from the match observers and referee team and submitted a report to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Disciplinary Committee. After careful deliberation, the Committee ultimately came to the decision of an eight-match ban and a VND40-million fine – the highest penalties ever issued for this type of offense.

Quyet, who has had 97 international games, including 57 caps and 16 goals in the national team jersey, will not be able to play official matches until July. This is due to the fact that the player has been handed a six-month suspension for breaching the Football Association’s code of conduct.

Quyet was entrusted with the captaincy of the national team at several tournaments in 2018, and he most recently wore the armband at the 2022 AFF Cup from December 20, 2022 to January 16. During this period, he made appearances as a starter in two matches and a substitute in two others.

This is not the first occasion that the striker has been suspended for using physical force during matches. The use of such aggression has been met with severe punishment in the past, and it appears that the same will be true this time around. The consequences of such behavior can be immense, both for the team and for the individual, and it is essential that players remain aware of the potential repercussions of their actions.

He was sanctioned with a two-match ban from playing football following his infraction of stepping on another player in the 2019 V-League 1.

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