Why is Phu Tho Club under FIFA's radar?

Phu Tho Club's unusual performance in the 2023-2024 National First Division before being relegated could be a suspicious point, as FIFA investigates and relegates them.

Phu Tho Club in the First Division 2023-2024 season - Photo: VPF

The news that Phu Tho Club, which is competing in the Second Division in the 2024-2025 season, was found by FIFA to have fixed the results of matches in recent tournaments has attracted the attention of Vietnamese fans.

For the first time in the history of Vietnamese football, FIFA directly demoted a Vietnamese football club after discovering negative signs in matches in recent tournaments.

FIFA did not specifically confirm which match and tournament Phu Tho Club participated in. The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) said it had provided information to FIFA recently.

Before the investigation was cleared up, Phu Tho Club had to stop competing in the 2025 National Second Division. After 3 matches, Phu Tho Club lost 0-4 to Bac Ninh , 0-3 to Quang Ninh and 0-3 to PVF Youth.

The 2025 national second division tournament starts on April 11. Therefore, it is difficult to determine the matches that Phu Tho Club fixed the results of, which took place less than a month ago, and were exposed so quickly.

However, looking back to Phu Tho FC's 2023-2024 season in the First Division, where they were relegated with just one win, those matches could very well be in FIFA's sights.

On May 25, 2024, Phu Tho Club was officially relegated from the 2023-2024 First Division before 3 rounds. They lost 0-3 at home to Binh Phuoc Club in round 19 at Viet Tri Stadium.

At that time, Phu Tho Club was led by coach Nghiem Xuan Manh. The team only won 1 match, drew 3 and lost 16 matches. They had 6 points after 20 rounds in the 2023-2024 season.

Phu Tho Club's only win was against Dong Nai Club with a score of 1-0 at home on March 8, 2024. At the end of the season, this team scored 6 goals, conceded 43 times, with a goal difference of -37.

Of the 20 rounds mentioned above, Phu Tho Club did not score any goals in 15 matches. Phu Tho Club's heaviest defeats were against Long An (2-6) and Da Nang Club (0-4).

There are 3 coaches who led Phu Tho Club in the 2023-2024 season: Mr. Ho Hoang Tien (from round 1 to round 8), Coach Vu Nhu Thanh (round 9) and Coach Nghiem Xuan Manh (from round 10).

Negative reporting system for FIFA

FIFA provides a highly confidential whistleblowing system for users to report any potential match manipulation or misconduct, operated by BKMS.

Read more Back to Topics

Back to topic

QUANG THINH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vi-sao-clb-phu-tho-roi-vao-tam-ngam-cua-fifa-20250503121835266.htm