After a 1-4 defeat, Thể Công Viettel requests the VFF to review the refereeing.

Thể Công Viettel is said to be drafting a document to the Vietnam Football Federation to reconsider the refereeing decisions in their forgettable defeat against SLNA in V-League Round 13.

According to sources from VnExpress, Thể Công Viettel is getting ready to submit an official letter to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and the professional football company organizing the V-League (VPF), requesting a review of the referees' management during the loss against SLNA in Round 13.

This decision comes after several incidents where the refereeing team was believed to have made calls that disadvantaged the home team at Hàng Đẫy stadium.

Specifically, when the score was tied 1-1 at the 24th minute, Phan Tuấn Tài made a perfect pass for Lucao to break through and score. However, the assistant referee raised the offside flag against the Brazilian striker. Slow-motion replays later showed that the number 9 player of Thể Công Viettel appeared to be positioned ahead of Vương Văn Huy, the lowest defender from SLNA.

It didn’t stop there; at the 36th minute, Lucao was again at the center of attention. During an aerial duel, the Brazilian striker was impeded by Vương Văn Huy, preventing him from reaching the ball and causing him to fall painfully to the ground. After consultation and VAR review, referee Nguyễn Viết Duẩn decided to let the game continue.

Notably, in the recent match, coach Velizar Popov, known for his straightforward personality and outspoken opinions, was absent from the bench. The Bulgarian coach had to sit out due to accumulating three yellow cards and serving a suspension.

At the post-match press conference, assistant coach Nguyễn Văn Biển openly expressed frustration: "The referee checked VAR for Lucao’s offside, but in reality, the opposing defender was still under 2 meters behind. We don’t understand."

After two potential first-half goals were disallowed, Thể Công Viettel’s players appeared to lose morale for the remainder of the match. The capital team conceded two penalty goals by Michael Olaha, with a goal from Reon Moore in between. Despite playing with one extra player from the 68th minute, the military-affiliated club failed to score and ultimately accepted a 1-4 defeat.

This result caused Thể Công Viettel to miss the chance to close the gap with Ninh Bình FC, as the two teams remain separated by 5 points.