The football governing body of Vietnam - the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) - has made a historic concession on September 29 whereby it will loosen control over top leagues and hand over power to a soon-to-be-established company to run the leagues.
However, VFF will maintain its veto power.
Bosses of 28 football clubs have scored a win after they all cast a unanimous vote on Thursday to set up a shareholding firm to run top leagues as from the 2012 season.
At the meeting held in Hanoi to prepare for the new season to start in January next year, the absolute agreement meant a total rejection of the much-criticized plan put forward by VFF to appoint an organizing board under VFF to operate the leagues.
According to the plan initiated by six V-League clubs, the VFF is to contribute VND7.875 billion or 35.6 percent of the share capital of the company while 14 V-League clubs each will contribute VND1 billion (US$48,100), accounting for 64.4 percent.
Then, both VFF and clubs will have their say commensurate with their stakes in the company which will take full responsibility in managing competitions under the leagues including match attendance, refereeing, and other tasks.
Any decision must be ratified by at least 65 percent of the shareholders.
Although VFF will relinquish its absolute control, the football watchdog having a 35.6 percent stake will still have the veto power to reject major decisions proposed by the company.
The company will hold annual shareholders’ meetings under the business law.
This plan is consistent with FIFA’s recommendation that VFF apply the new model to run the top leagues in Vietnam.
VFF failed to prevent corruption in the past: delegates
Dong Tam Long An club boss Vo Quoc Thang told the meeting, “This plan is the best for developments of our football.”
Owner Nguyen Duc Kien from Hanoi ACB club added, “We have sufficient time to apply the new plan for the 2012 season. I’m sure it takes us only 7 days to complete legal documents.”
“Change is inevitable to prevent the drop in match attendance and shady refereeing. It’s a waste for our 14 clubs to spend VND1 trillion (US$48.5 million) a season but match attendance keeps on going down,” he concluded.
Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC owner Doan Nguyen Duc made a comparison, “Each Thai club spends on average $1 million a season but here in Vietnam, a club pays $5 million. And the result is our fans turning their back away. The main reasons come from the organizing board under the VFF, corrupt refereeing and loose disciplines.”
“A business group produces poor output must be restructured, why not for the VFF that has failed to stop match fixing and other troubles in the last 10 years?” Duc argued.
VFF chairman Nguyen Trong Hy told the delegates to calm down: “With your agreement, VFF will consult with higher authorities like the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to promptly carry out legal documents for the establishment of the company.
“Next week, we will hold another working session with clubs to build up a detailed plan to set up the company,” Hy said.
Attending the meeting, Pham Van Tuan, vice chief of the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, announced his body backs the new plan.
However, just several days ahead of the meeting, VFF was unwilling to loosen their dictatorial control over the leagues and insisted on retaining the organizing board under its management, citing that three months is not enough to set up a company.
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