6 clubs sign petition to set up V-League company

Owners of six topflight V-League clubs of Vietnam yesterday submitted their petition to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), calling for the establishment of a share holding company to run the league, while the VFF prefers to retain its full control via its own organization board.

Dong Tam Long An boss Vo Quoc Thang, one of the six petitioners, said, “It’s time to make drastic changes in the management of Vietnam’s football after it has gone through ten years of the so-called professionalism.”

“The outcomes have been very disappointing,” Thang declared strongly, referring to the steady decline in spectator attendance in the last 3 seasons while violence and corrupt refereeing moved in the opposite direction.

“We owe it to the Vietnamese football fans to develop the country’s football to a higher level,” he said.

Five other club owners who have put their signatures to the petition also agreed with the proposal, including Doan Nguyen Duc of Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Nguyen Duc Kien from Hanoi ACB, Vissai Ninh Binh’s Hoang Manh Truong, Khatoco Khanh Hoa’s Le Tien Anh, and Lam Son Thanh Hoa’s Nguyen Van De.

According to the plan drafted by the six, the Vietnam’s football governing body, VFF contributes VND7.875 billion or 35.6 percent of the share capital of the company while 14 V-League clubs each contribute VND1 billion (US$48,100) to hold totally 64.4 percent.

As share holders of the company, both the VFF and 14 clubs will have the rights and responsibilities in making major decisions, including the hiring and firing of the company personnel.

The company will work on behalf of the VFF and clubs to take full responsibility towards match attendance, refereeing, and other organization tasks in running competition at the league.

The company will hold annual shareholders’ meetings under Vietnam’s business law.

Importantly, the proposal is consistent with FIFA’s recommendation that VFF apply the new model to run the top leagues in Vietnam.

Yet, the VFF seems unwilling to loosen their control over the leagues and insists on keeping the organization board under the VFF.

“The new league will start in January next year and a three-month period does not give us enough time to set up such a share-holding company,” VFF chairman Nguyen Trong Hy argued.

Meanwhile, club bosses confirmed they need only a month to get the company set up and running.

Today, the VFF and the bosses of 28 top clubs in Vietnam are holding a meeting to discuss the change proposed by the petitioners.