V-League On-Field Violence: Referees, VAR and the Discipline Challenge

Round 3 of V-League 2026-2027 has not ended, but the match between Dong Nai and Hanoi Police FC (CAHN) on September 20 has become a flashpoint. In that match, Dong Nai defender Le Van Son delivered an elbow to CAHN striker Nguyen Dinh Bac. Central defender Huynh Tan Sinh also twice kicked from behind, targeting Bac's legs. Referee Le Vu Linh only produced a yellow card for Tan Sinh, despite the blatant "leave the ball, kick the man" tackle. Earlier, in Round 2, CAHN defender Doan Van Hau broke the leg of The Cong Viettel midfielder Doan Ngoc Tan. Nam Dinh foreign player Ezeqiuel Santos Da Silva stamped on the stomach of SHB Da Nang player Vo Huu Viet Hoang. Within three rounds, the V-League has seen at least four serious violent incidents. Representatives of the organizing committee, VPF and VFF met directly with the VFF Referee Board. They asked referees to follow the law, maintain discipline, and stop rough play. "Doing the law" means no missed fouls, no missed cards. Duong Vu Lam, former VFF vice president in charge of professional football and former head of the VFF Referee Board, told Dan Tri: "Referee Le Vu Linh missed a card. Huynh Tan Sinh left the ball and kicked the man too blatantly, but no red card was shown." He added that if Tan Sinh is retroactively suspended, referee Le Vu Linh should also be suspended. The VAR crew, including Vo Hoai Thuong and Nguyen Thanh Son, must also be investigated. If VAR advised the referee but was overruled, VAR fulfilled its task. If VAR did not advise, VAR should be penalized. Duong Vu Lam said referee disciplinary actions are not public, but observers can look at the referee list in next rounds to detect suspensions. Violence on the pitch is not a new problem. But four incidents in three rounds is a warning. Referees need courage to show red cards at crucial moments. VAR needs to proactively intervene in violent conduct. Discipline is built by correct decisions on the pitch. The national league image is being challenged. If referees do not enforce the law strictly, all calls to protect the tournament's reputation will remain empty words. The grass never lies, and fans will measure the result of this emergency meeting by the decisions made in the coming rounds.