Hanoi, 30 April 2026 – The headline match of Round 21 in the V.League 1 between The Cong Viettel and Ninh Binh FC will be officiated by two South Korean referees.
The clash has attracted major attention from fans as it could significantly impact not only the title race but also the battle for the runner-up position and a spot in next season’s AFC Champions League Two.
Due to the importance of the match, FIFA referees Chae Sang Hyeop and Choi Cheol Jun have been appointed to oversee the game, with one serving as the main referee and the other handling VAR duties.
This marks the second time this season that a South Korean refereeing team has been invited to officiate in V.League 1. Previously, Korean officials were assigned to the Round 16 match between Ninh Binh and Hanoi Police FC.
Chae Sang Hyeop, born in 1989, is an experienced referee who is already familiar with Vietnamese football. On the international stage, he recently officiated the match between Vietnam and Malaysia in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification in March 2026.
At club level, he also took charge of the match between Hanoi Police FC and Tampines Rovers in the ASEAN Club Championship 2024/25 and previously served as VAR referee during the high-profile clash between Hanoi Police FC and Hanoi FC in Round 24 of the 2024/25 V.League season.
Meanwhile, Choi Cheol Jun will make his V.League debut. He had previously been nominated by the Korea Football Association for the Ninh Binh vs Hanoi Police FC match in Round 16, but the assignment was later changed.
VSN/RPT
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