Don't set a bad example for your students!

When coaches receive more red cards than players: Sad images of V-League

Round 13 of V-League 2024 - 2025 witnessed a "strange" phenomenon, when the coaches were continuously shown red cards by the referee and expelled from the coaching position.

In the match between Ho Chi Minh City FC and Thanh Hoa at Thong Nhat Stadium, coach Velizar Popov received two yellow cards from referee Le Vu Linh, forcing him to leave the technical area. In the match between Da Nang FC and The Cong Viettel , coach Le Duc Tuan was dismissed from the coaching position in the final minutes due to his strong reaction to the fourth referee.

Coach Le Duc Tuan pointed at the referee's face.

Then in the match between Hanoi Police Club and Quang Nam , coach Van Sy Son of the away team was not shown a direct red card. However, based on the match monitoring report, the VFF Disciplinary Board decided to fine Mr. Van Sy Son 5 million VND and suspend him from coaching for 2 matches.

Thus, up to 3 coaches will not be able to perform their duties in the upcoming matches due to disciplinary action. In both matches between Quang Nam and Thanh Hoa (make-up matches of round 11 and round 14), both teams did not have their head coaches present in the technical area. Similarly, the match between Da Nang Club and Ho Chi Minh City Club at Tam Ky Stadium will not have the young "general" Le Duc Tuan. Most likely, Mr. Phan Thanh Hung will take over the command.

The common point of the 3 coaches who were suspended in round 13 was that they all reacted to the referee. Mr. Popov reacted strongly to the referee when he did not blow the whistle when a Thanh Hoa player fell to the ground after a collision, leading to a yellow card. At the end of the first half, the Bulgarian strategist kicked a water bottle when defender Thanh Long committed a foul, then received a second yellow card.

Although coach Popov explained that he was only showing his anger towards his players, instead of towards the referee, but according to the law (kicking a water bottle can result in a yellow card), the Thanh Hoa FC coach was wrong. The law clearly states: offensive and hot-tempered behavior by a coach can absolutely lead to a card, whether or not that behavior is directed towards the referee.

Coach Popov is good, but also hot-tempered.

As for coaches Le Duc Tuan (Da Nang) and Van Sy Son (Quang Nam), suspensions, whether "hot" or "cold", are for hot-tempered reactions.

Keep a cool head

In a tense match, it is inevitable that the coach or player will be dissatisfied and react to the referee. Not only V-League, but also in major tournaments around the world, there are often images of head coaches arguing fiercely, when they think the referee's decision is unfair to their team.

In the inherently stressful environment of football, it is not easy to stay focused and alert. Anyone can get caught up in the flow of the game and lose control of their emotions.

However, if everyone keeps their impulsive and instinctive behavior, the tournament will lack professionalism. Take the case of Coach Popov for example. The Bulgarian coach can "discipline" his students in the locker room or on the training ground, the law does not prohibit it. However, in a specific match, in front of thousands of spectators, the football field cannot be turned into a place to "beat children" to vent anger.

Coach Popov was not wrong in being dissatisfied with his players. His mistake was in the timing of his reaction (in the middle of the match) and the way he reacted (kicking the water bottle). There are many ways to express anger, leading to less risk of being penalized than kicking the water bottle, an act that is clearly prohibited by the rules. As a hot-tempered coach who has been penalized many times for reacting, perhaps Coach Popov understands better than anyone.

As for reacting to the referee, it is necessary to separate the rightness or wrongness of the referee's decisions from the coach's reaction. Because on the field, when the coach does not have the same careful observation as VAR, and cannot review the slow-motion replay to analyze the truth (so many coaches refuse to talk about the referee after the match), reacting will only have the opposite effect.

Coach Van Sy Son was banned from coaching 2 matches

For example, Mr. Van Sy Son threw the card onto the field when referee Nguyen Manh Hai did not blow the whistle when a Quang Nam player fell down, but slow-motion replays showed that the referee was right. The Hanoi Police Club player did not commit a foul and the goal was valid.

When coaches also choose to act emotionally, how will they teach their students to behave respectfully and keep a "cool head"?

Football or sports in general, after all, cannot avoid emotions and instincts. And the rules of the game are to control those instincts within a framework. Hopefully, after the penalty, the teachers in V-League will be more restrained.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhieu-hlv-ov-league-bi-cam-chi-dao-dung-lam-guong-xay-cho-hoc-tro-185250219112732083.htm