The refereeing team for the upcoming friendly match between Vietnam and India has been revealed. The match, scheduled to take place at 6:00 PM on October 12 at Thien Truong Stadium (Nam Dinh), will be overseen by officials familiar to Vietnamese football fans.
A Familiar Face in the V-League
Initially, India was supposed to play two friendly matches, one against Lebanon and the other against Vietnam, during the October FIFA Days window. However, Lebanon withdrew due to travel complications, leaving India with just one fixture against Vietnam. The match was originally planned for October 9 but was moved to October 12 as India couldn’t change their flight schedule.
Despite being a friendly match, this game is crucial for both teams. For Vietnam, head coach Kim Sang-sik is still seeking to make a strong impression after taking charge in May 2024. A win, coupled with a clear tactical approach, would significantly boost the morale of the players and the fans. Meanwhile, India is on a ten-match winless streak and is desperate for a positive result.
According to sources from Vietnam Sports News, the refereeing team for this match will consist of Thai referee Songkran Bunmeekiart, South Korean assistant referee Choi Huyn-jai, and Thai officials Komsan Kampan and Woraphong Prasertsee.
Among these, Songkran Bunmeekiart is a familiar face in Vietnamese football. Born in 1990, he is one of Thailand’s most respected and experienced referees. He officiated the crucial V-League 2023 “final” between Hanoi FC and Hanoi Police FC (CAHN) at the invitation of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF). Additionally, in 2022, he was invited to referee the match between Ho Chi Minh City FC and Da Nang FC in round 24 of the V-League. In that game, he awarded a penalty that broke the deadlock, leading to Ho Chi Minh City FC’s 3-0 victory.
A History with Vietnamese Football
Assistant referee Choi Huyn-jai is also a well-known figure, frequently officiating in the K-League, South Korea’s top-tier football league. He has officiated important matches involving Vietnamese teams, including the SEA Games 31 final, where U23 Vietnam, under the guidance of coach Park Hang-seo, defeated U23 Indonesia 3-0. Choi was also part of the officiating team when Vietnam won the 2023 U23 Southeast Asian Championship.
As for the upcoming match, Vietnam currently ranks 116th in the FIFA world rankings, ten places above India, making them the favorites. India’s squad does feature notable players such as goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who has experience in the UEFA Europa League, but overall, the team isn’t seen as particularly star-studded.
Nonetheless, India’s head coach Manolo Márquez has made it clear that his team is not coming to Vietnam for sightseeing. “We are here to win,” he stated. Márquez emphasized that the players selected for this trip are among the best in India and that, physically, his team is in better shape than they were during the preseason. He also pointed out the similarities between both teams, as their respective national leagues have already completed four rounds. “The team that wins this match will show that they are stronger, at least in this game,” Márquez added.
This match is expected to be a closely contested encounter, with both teams looking to break out of their recent challenges and build momentum heading into their next competitive fixtures.
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