First time having female VAR assistant, very familiar face

Round 4 of LPBank V-League 2024 – 2025 is the first round to have all 7 matches with VAR technology accompanying the main referees. In addition, there is another special highlight, when for the first time in a match applying VAR in V-League, there will be a female assistant referee VAR (AVAR).

Referee Bui Thi Thu Trang (short hair) used to officiate at the Vietnam Youth Student Football Tournament. She will play the role of VAR assistant.

PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

FIFA female referee Bui Thi Thu Trang is also known as the first female referee in Vietnam to be granted a VAR referee certificate by FIFA after Vietnam's first VAR referee training course was held in 2023.

It is known that in addition to female referee Bui Thi Thu Trang, Vietnam is also continuing to train 4 more female referees and VAR assistant referees: Le Thi Ly, Tran Thi Thanh, Ha Thi Phuong, Nguyen Thi Hang Nga. Referee Thu Trang has participated in the Vietnam Youth Student Football Tournament.

Female referees Bui Thi Thu Trang (left) and Ha Thi Phuong

PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

The two late matches of round 4 are both very noteworthy. In particular, the match between Hanoi FC hosting Hanoi Police FC (CAHN CLB) at 7:15 p.m. on October 19 at Hang Day Stadium is considered a match of equal strength and talent between the two candidates on the championship race.

Hanoi FC and CAHN FC are both temporarily in the middle of the rankings, and a victory in the match on October 19 will help one of the two teams move up the rankings very quickly. Therefore, the motivation of the two former V-League champions is very strong, making the match predicted to be even more "hot".

CAHN Club has been in good form recently with two consecutive victories in the domestic tournament and the Southeast Asian club tournament. Coach Alexandre Polking's quality players seem to be gradually understanding each other better, connecting more closely and creating a formidable collective strength. The victory over a candidate like Hanoi Club will be a testament to the strength and ambition of Coach Polking and his team.

Meanwhile, the host team Hanoi is equally determined as a win will help the team stay at the top of the rankings. This team no longer has a "forest" of stars like before, but their squad is still very high quality, playing together for many years, so they are capable of competing with the other candidates at the top.

A match that is not easy to predict the outcome, but certainly competitive, fierce and worth watching.

Nam Dinh Club (white shirt) has only scored 1 goal after 3 matches in V-League

PHOTO: MINH TU

Another championship candidate, Nam Dinh FC, will host SLNA (6 p.m. on October 19 at Thien Truong). This is a match where many advantages are leaning towards Nam Dinh FC, from the home team position to the squad. Nam Dinh FC is having a difficult start, temporarily ranked 8th and only scoring 1 goal after 3 rounds.

Therefore, coach Vu Hong Viet and his team need to quickly accumulate maximum points in the match against SLNA Club, a team with many young players, so as not to be left too far behind in the upcoming race.

SLNA is in the process of rejuvenation towards the goal of staying in the league. After the first rounds, the Nghe An team only has 2 points and is temporarily in the bottom group.

SLNA's strength is its strong, passionate youth (average age is about 22 years old, compared to the average age of over 28 years old of Nam Dinh Club).

In the previous round, Nam Dinh FC also let HAGL team hold them to a 0-0 draw. That shows that surprises can still happen at Thien Truong Stadium.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/v-league-lan-dau-co-tro-ly-nu-var-guong-mat-rat-quen-thuoc-185241016113250655.htm