An altercation in the tunnel of a Ho Chi Minh City stadium saw two players come to blows and blood following a goalless draw in the V. League 2 on Thursday.
During the match in Thong Nhat Stadium, striker Nguyen Xuan Nam of PVF-CAND and defender Vu Van Son of HCMC Youth frequently clashed, leading to tensions on the field. After the final whistle, the two players crossed paths near the referee’s lounge. Security camera footage shows Nam saying something before pushing Son in the face. Son retaliated immediately, which started a fight.
The incident, which lasted about five seconds, was interfered by security and players from both teams.
Photos shared on PVF-CAND’s fan page later showed Nam bleeding heavily, with blood streaming from his nose and lips. Nam described the fight as unexpected, claiming that post-match arguments are common but “didn’t expect to get a hit and run”.
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Striker Nguyen Xuan Nam bleeding from the nose after a fight with a HCMC Youth player after a V. League 2 match on Nov. 14, 2024. Photo by Facebook/PVF-CAND FC |
Coach Tran Duy Quang of HCMC Youth said he did not witness the incident but was told by the players on his team that the incident came from both sides and Nam was the one who struck first, matching the image from surveillance cameras.
“During the argument, he called me a ‘little brat’ and cursed my parents,” Son told Readadding that the two sides continued to exchange words and Nam told him to go outside the stadium to “straighten things out”.
“I know my actions were wrong, as I couldn’t control myself. If there is a punishment, I will accept it because this incident tarnished the image of the tournament, of Vietnamese football and was not a good look in the eyes of the fans”, Son said.
Nam recalled that when he entered the tunnel, he approached and talked to Son, who was younger but behaved rudely.
“I pushed Son’s chest and he punched me in the face. I didn’t hit him first”, Nam said.
Two players fight after a V.League game at Thong Nhat Stadium, Nov. 14, 2024. Video courtesy of Thong Nhat Stadium
Son, 21, a product of Hanoi FC’s youth academy, earned accolades such as the best player at the 2022 national U19 tournament. He was later promoted to Hanoi FC’s first team but failed to be a starter and has since played on loan for several V. League 2 clubs, including HCMC Youth. Son also captained Vietnam U20 team but missed the 2023 U20 Asian Cup due to injury.
Nam, 30, is also a product of Hanoi FC youth academy. He won the U19 AFF Cup golden boot in 2011 and has been called up to the national team but has yet to make his debut. At the club level, he has played for Hanoi FC and other teams, including Saigon FC, Ho Chi Minh City FC and Cong An Ha Noi. He joined PVF-CAND in 2023.
