According to the tentative plan that Vietnam Professional Football (VPF) recently sent to the football teams over the country, Vietnam's professional football tournaments will return in September. The national cup will be the first one to kick off, followed by the first division league (V-League 2) and the highest division league (V-League 1).
According to the tentative plan that Vietnam Professional Football (VPF) recently sent to the football teams over the country, Vietnam’s professional football tournaments will return in September. The national cup will be the first one to kick off, followed by the first division league (V-League 2) and the highest division league (V-League 1).
The return of Vietnam’s professional football tournaments depends on the situation of COVID-19 pandemic. Many football activities across the country have been maintained while strictly following the instructions and recommendations of the authorities. Some competitions were even organized in an unprecedented way in order to adapt to the circumstance.
Bamboo Airway National Cup 2020 is scheduled to return in September, marking the comeback of Vietnam’s professional football tournaments after the pandemic broke out again in Vietnam. Eight remaining teams of Bamboo Airway National Cup 2020 (Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Linh Ha Tinh, Than Quang Ninh, Viettel, Becamex Binh Duong, Ha Noi, and Xo so kien thiet Can Tho) will play quarter-finals in September 11 and 12. Two semi-final matches will be played on September 16; final match will take place on September 20. With this plan, Bamboo Airway National Cup 2020 will return and complete in September instead of alternating with V-League 1 as planned previously.
Also in September, VPF planned to continue the remaining matches of V-League 2 and the first stage of V-League 1. Accordingly, round 10 of V-League 2 will kick off on September 23 and end on October 31. Meanwhile, round 12 of V-League 1 will begin on September 26 and end on November 15.
This plan of VPF for the return of Vietnam’s professional football has been said to be quite reasonable. The leaders of many football teams have agreed that the tournaments should return if COVID-19 is controlled well in the localities and all tournaments comply with the pandemic prevention and control measures. Especially, the schedules of the national teams at the international tournaments were moved to 2021. For some pandemic-hit regions, competitions can be played at other localities’ football grounds. Health conditions of the coaches and players of from these regions will be closely checked to ensure the safety for all.
V-League 2 teams also hope that the tournament can return and end soon. The prospect of cancellation is not expected by any teams because it will be not just about promotion or relegation but about the economic and financial losses of the clubs. It is reasonable for VPF to plan the tentative return of Vietnam’s football in September.
An Nhien
Translated by H.N
