In a highly contentious moment during the 22nd round of Night Wolf V.League 1 – 2023/2024, referee Nguyen Viet Duan disallowed a goal by Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) forward Nguyen Quoc Viet, sparking outrage from HAGL’s coach Vu Tien Thanh.
The incident occurred in the 35th minute of the match between Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) and Thanh Hoa. With the score tied at 1-1, Quoc Viet managed to find the back of the net, only to have his effort ruled out for offside. This decision left HAGL feeling aggrieved, as the potential goal would have given them a 2-1 lead.
Video replays suggest that Quoc Viet appeared to be onside, standing behind the last defender of Thanh Hoa at the moment the ball was played. This apparent misjudgment by the officials has fueled criticism from HAGL’s coaching staff and fans alike.
“We feel robbed. Quoc Viet was clearly onside when he scored. We reviewed the footage and even during the match, it was evident from our position,” coach Vu Tien Thanh expressed his frustration in the post-match press conference.
Coach Thanh did not hold back in his comments about the officiating: “This is typical of the referees. We are fighting hard to stay in the league, but then we get robbed of a crucial goal. Nevertheless, a 1-1 draw is a fair reflection of the game.”
This outburst from Coach Thanh comes hot on the heels of a 20 million VND fine he received for comments deemed damaging to the image of Vietnamese football. He had previously criticized referees and the leadership of the Vietnam Professional Football (VPF) after HAGL’s 1-4 defeat to Ho Chi Minh City FC in the 21st round of V-League.
HAGL’s current form is a cause for concern, as they have not won in their last two matches. They are currently in 12th place on the V-League table with 26 points, just one point above Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA), who occupy the relegation play-off spot, but HAGL have played one more game.
The controversy surrounding the offside decision adds to the mounting pressure on HAGL as they struggle to secure their place in the top tier of Vietnamese football. The team’s performance and the subsequent refereeing decisions will undoubtedly be closely scrutinized in the remaining matches of the season.
As the V-League enters its final stages, HAGL’s fate hangs in the balance, and they will need to gather all their resources and resolve to avoid the drop. The question remains whether they can overcome these challenges and maintain their top-flight status.
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