With only three months before the start of its new season, Vietnam’s V-League is yet to sign major sponsors. The Vietnam Football Federation earned about VND10 billion (US$630,000) in 2004/05 from its major supporters, Viet Advertisement Company and Ben Thanh Beer , but they are reportedly hesitant to commit to 2006 because of the match-fixing scandal ravaging the sport.
The problem now includes allegations that an international FIFA referee took money to alter the outcome of a First Division game in 2005. Currently facing police questioning, Truong The Toan, the only Vietnamese referee who officiated in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens is alleged to have taken a bribe of VND25 million (US$1,600).
See also: More disclosures on 'the rot in Vietnam football' (16 Sept)
The problem now includes allegations that an international FIFA referee took money to alter the outcome of a First Division game in 2005. Currently facing police questioning, Truong The Toan, the only Vietnamese referee who officiated in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens is alleged to have taken a bribe of VND25 million (US$1,600).
See also: More disclosures on 'the rot in Vietnam football' (16 Sept)