Recently, Vietnam Professional Federation (VPF) sent a document informing V.League and First Division teams about two options for the return of Vietnam's professional football leagues in case COVID-19 pandemic is under control. Most of the teams have agreed with the two options. However, these options are tentative.
Recently, Vietnam Professional Federation (VPF) sent a document informing V.League and First Division teams about two options for the return of Vietnam’s professional football leagues in case COVID-19 pandemic is under control. Most of the teams have agreed with the two options. However, these options are tentative.
According to option 1, Vietnam’s 2020 football season will return with the quarter-finals of the national cup on September 5 and 6, semi-finals on November 1 and final on December 13. V.League will begin on September 12 with round 12 of the first stage. Afterwards, V.League teams will play the second stage where group B (comprising teams competing to avoid relegation) will compete until October 31 and group A (comprising teams competing for championship title) will end their competitions on December 8. The First Division is planed to return on September 11 with round 10 of the first stage and end on October 31.
For option 2, the quarter-finals of the national cup on will be played on September 12 and 13; semi-finals on September 19 and final on December 23. V.League is planed to return on October 18 and end on December 19. The First Division will begin on September 25 and end on November 29.
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Most of the V.League and First Division teams have basically agreed with this organization plan of VPF. However, after FIFA and Asian Football Confederation announced the postponement of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification and ASIAN Cup 2023 qualifying matches to 2021, it was said that Vietnam’s football tournaments could be moved early and didn’t need to extend time for the sake of the national football team. However, all the options can only be possible if the pandemic is under control and tournaments are permitted to be played by the authorities.
The 2021 season is scheduled for January 2021. Therefore, in case the pandemic continues to be complicated in early September, it is very likely that Vietnam’s 2020 professional football tournaments must be cancelled. In that case, Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and VPF need to find a solution to end the season which satisfies the teams, according to coach Vo Dinh Tan of Sanna Khanh Hoa-Bien Vietnam (S.KH-BVN).
Reportedly, some teams have proposed that if tournaments are cancelled, the organizers should give the championships to the first-placed teams; no teams be relegated and the top two First Division teams be promoted, which means there will be 16 teams in V.League season 2021. However, some teams, including S.KH-BVN and Binh Dinh, who are placing third and fourth on the table of the 2020 First Division, are believed to disagree with this proposal. Vo Dinh Tan has suggested that if the 2020 tournaments are cancelled, VFF and VPF should hold a meeting (possibly online) with the participation of all 26 teams (14 V.League teams and 12 First Division teams) to discuss and find the best and satisfying solution for all teams.
In summary, the actual situations of COVID-19 pandemic will decide whether Vietnam’s 2020 professional football tournaments can return in early September as scheduled or will be cancelled.
An Nhien
Translated by H.N
