Please don't let athletes break down in tears because of referees.

When the referee turns the game upside down.

If Bich Thuy's goal against the Philippines had been allowed by the referee, the Vietnamese women's team would have had a different game plan and very likely would have defended their SEA Games gold medal.

Before Bich Thuy scored, the Vietnamese women's team was dominating the game. Coach Mai Duc Chung's players launched an early offensive, overwhelming the Philippines with precise and well-executed attacks from the flanks to the center.

A goal would be like a gust of wind fanning the flames, engulfing the opponent. Remember, under coach Chung, the Vietnamese women's national team has never lost when leading in a final.

Xin đừng để VĐV phải phát khóc vì trọng tài- Ảnh 1. — Assistant coach Chanthavong Phutsavan made a mistake in calling Bich Thuy's goal offside.

However, everything fell apart due to a basic mistake by assistant referee Chanthavong Phutsavan. The Laotian assistant referee raised the flag when Bich Thuy was still ahead of two Philippine players. In fact, the distance between Bich Thuy and the last central defender was more than 2 meters. Ms. Phutsavan incorrectly called offside in a situation with a wide field of view.

Many assistant referees at the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA levels have also made incorrect offside calls. That's why VAR was created. However, assistant referees usually only make mistakes in offside situations when the distance between players is very close, or in chaotic situations where visibility is obstructed.

Mistakes like the one that disallowed Bich Thuy's goal are rare, especially in a crucial situation like a final match. "I don't want to criticize, but the referee's officiating wasn't accurate," coach Mai Duc Chung briefly shared.

If Bich Thuy had scored, the Vietnamese women's team might not have won, but they would clearly have had a better game.

The referee's incorrect decision became the dividing line, splitting the match in two. After the biased whistle, the Vietnamese women's team could no longer maintain their dominance. The frustration intensified when the referee overlooked numerous fouls committed by the Philippine women's team.

Xin đừng để VĐV phải phát khóc vì trọng tài- Ảnh 2. — The main referee also overlooked many fouls by the Philippines.

Bola Indonesia commented: "The refereeing team unfortunately disallowed a legitimate goal for the Vietnamese women's team. If Bich Thuy's beautiful goal had been allowed, the course of the match would have completely changed. It seems the disallowed goal also affected the Vietnamese women's team's plan to score an early goal, preventing them from imposing their game."

Where is the fairness?

Winning and losing are commonplace in sports . The Vietnamese women's national team has also experienced defeat, using that pain as motivation to achieve what they have today.

However, defeat only has value when it is a loss in an honest, fair, and honorable competition. Even if you lose, you must lose with dignity.

However, poor refereeing is ruining the athletes' efforts, affecting the image of the tournament, and turning many matches at the SEA Games 33 from a "village pond" into... a puddle of water.

Xin đừng để VĐV phải phát khóc vì trọng tài- Ảnh 3. — The Vietnamese women's team must stand up.

Before the controversial refereeing in the women's football final, the 33rd SEA Games witnessed many tragicomic incidents in martial arts, bowling, and other sports, where Vietnamese athletes were repeatedly unfairly treated by the host country. Some overcame these challenges and turned their victories into incredibly valuable ones, like 16-year-old bowler Tran Hoang Khoi. Despite losing a lead over Thailand in the semi-finals because the organizers claimed a... scheduling error, Hoang Khoi still agreed to compete and then beautifully defeated his opponent in the final. However, some could not recover. In the men's 60 kg pencak silat category, Vu Van Kien was declared the loser despite leading, after the host country's fighter deliberately... lunged at Kien's kick to force a foul. Meanwhile, in the men's 65 kg category, Nguyen Minh Triet fainted after a blow from a Malaysian fighter and was declared the loser, with the Thai Pencak Silat Federation claiming Triet "faked fainting"...

Ultimately, the biggest losers are the athletes, whether they are on the Vietnamese women's national team or anyone else sweating for the glory of their country. Many tears have been shed, not because of victory or defeat, but because fairness and integrity in sports are no longer guaranteed due to the mistakes of those in charge of officiating.

When the referee turns the game upside down.

Where is the fairness?

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