Early morning of August 4, referee Tran Dinh Thinh breathed his last after many hours of emergency care and intensive resuscitation at Hong Ngoc Hospital ( Hanoi ) at the age of 43.
Previously, on the morning of August 3, during a physical examination as part of the training program for supervisors and referees of national professional football tournaments for the 2025-26 season, referee Tran Dinh Thinh suddenly suffered a serious health problem and had to be rushed to the hospital.
Specifically, during the physical test according to FIFA standards, referee Tran Dinh Thinh showed signs of instability and could not continue the test.
With the preparation and arrangement of full-time professional forces from medical work, emergency teams on the field and specialized ambulances with full equipment immediately carried out emergency measures, supported respiration and circulation and quickly transferred the referee to the hospital by ambulance for further treatment. Representatives of VFF, VPF and the Referee Board were present at the hospital to directly monitor and coordinate in the treatment work.
Referee Tran Dinh Thinh (Photo: Hai Long).
However, despite the efforts and dedication of the doctors and medical team to save him, what everyone wanted still happened and referee Tran Dinh Thinh passed away at the age of 43, while still in the spirit of attachment and dedication to national professional tournaments with all his heart and responsibility.
Regarding the sudden passing of referee Tran Dinh Thinh, VFF General Secretary Nguyen Van Phu shared: “This is a great loss for Vietnamese football, especially for the national referee force. Referee Tran Dinh Thinh is not only a professional referee, serious in his work, but also a person who is loved by all his colleagues.
His passing leaves a huge void and an indescribable pain. On behalf of the VFF and the Organizing Committee of the training program, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the family, relatives and colleagues of referee Tran Dinh Thinh. The VFF will coordinate with VPF Company to organize the funeral in the most solemn and meaningful way.
For his part, VFF Vice President and VPF President Tran Anh Tu said: “I am truly shocked and heartbroken by the passing of referee Tran Dinh Thinh. He is an experienced referee, has many contributions and has been honored at prestigious professional awards of V.League.
We always appreciate the dedication and professionalism of referee Tran Dinh Thinh. This is a great loss for the Vietnamese referee team. VFF and VPF would like to send our deepest condolences to his family and will work with his relatives to take care of the funeral of referee Tran Dinh Thinh with all our sorrow and respect.
Referee Tran Dinh Thinh was born in 1982 in Dong Nai , and started his refereeing journey in 2010. He is a familiar face in the V-League, having been awarded the title of "Bronze Whistle" in the 2024 season and "Silver Whistle" in the following season - the highest achievement in his refereeing career.
During more than a decade of working in national football tournaments, referee Tran Dinh Thinh always showed composure, seriousness and courage in the assigned matches. His passing is a loss not only to his family and friends but also to a whole generation of referees who are striving for the development of Vietnamese football.
Regarding the physical fitness test of referees in the training program, this is a mandatory test according to FIFA regulations to assess their ability to undertake duties in national professional football tournaments in the 2025-26 season.
Referees are also informed of the training schedule one month in advance to have time to prepare physically. The testing time is arranged in the morning to avoid the hot weather in recent days, creating the most favorable conditions for the referees.
This heartbreaking incident is an experience for all members participating in the tournament, including the referees, to pay close attention and always see that in physical activities there is always a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease even when there are no warning signs.
VFF and VPF said they will continue to promote all activities in the health monitoring process, guide and strengthen medical work, and advise on physical preparation for referees in preparation for the new season.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/trong-tai-v-league-tran-dinh-thinh-qua-doi-20250804064944540.htm
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