V-League 2026-27: Violence Returns, 'Enforcing the Law' Must Start with the Referees

The moment Huynh Tan Sinh kicked Nguyen Dinh Bac from behind in the match between Dong Nai and Cong An Ha Noi on September 20 did not belong to any tactical plan. The ball was already gone, but the defender's leg still hit his opponent. Referee Le Vu Linh blew the whistle and showed only a yellow card. Earlier, Le Van Son, another Dong Nai defender, also elbowed Nguyen Dinh Bac. Two ugly challenges in one match, yet neither was punished with a red card. Those incidents came shortly after Doan Van Hau broke Doan Ngoc Tan's leg and Ezeqiuel Santos Da Silva kicked Vo Huu Viet Hoang in the abdomen. All were part of round 2 of V-League 2026-2027. After the wave of violence, VFF, VPF and the league organizers met with VFF's Referee Board. They demanded that referees strictly enforce the law and stop violent acts. Former VFF vice president Duong Vu Lam said referee Le Vu Linh missed a red card. He added that if the player is retrospectively banned, the referee should also be suspended. If the VAR team failed to advise on the red card, they should be punished too. The core issue is not only violent players. The refereeing system must be accountable. When misconduct is missed, players learn that they can cross the line. When referees are not disciplined, the system loses credibility. One way to check is the referee list for the next rounds. If referees disappear from assignments, they are likely being disciplined. The upcoming matches will show whether V-League can really protect the game and build a culture of fairness.