Vietnam police probe SEAG match-fixing claims

Vietnam police probe SEAG match-fixing claims

Agence France-Presse, Hanoi

Vietnamese police are investigating allegations of match- fixing by members of the national soccer squad during the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines earlier this month, state media said on Monday.

At least four U23 players are suspected of fixing matches against Myanmar and Malaysia, the Capital Security newspaper said.

Another newspaper, the Thanh Nien (Youth) daily, said the match between Vietnam and Myanmar ended with the "arranged result" of 1-0 after some Vietnamese players suddenly slowed down so their opponents could get the game under control.

Thailand beat Vietnam earlier this month in the final of the Games.

Vietnam Football Federation general secretary Tran Quoc Tuan declined to comment on the case on Monday.

National coach Alfred Riedl expressed disappointment over the allegations but said the Vietnam Football Federation was waiting for the police investigation.

Capital Security said Riedl changed a few players during the semifinal match between Vietnam and Malaysia (2-1) after he noticed odd behavior in his squad, but the Austrian denied the claims.

"I did not see anything. And when some players did not play so well, I thought it was the bad field conditions. But now, I have to rethink what I've thought these days," he said.

"I am disappointed. I hope it is not accurate and that everything will end in a good way. But I am afraid it will not be.

"Already, it sounds bad," he said.

Vietnamese soccer is facing an uphill task to win back fans as police are already investigating a major match-fixing and corruption scandal involving around 90 referees, coaches and players in the professional V-League.

The domestic league has been marred by allegations of corruption and match-fixing since its debut 2000-2001 season.

Riedl said the problem could jeopardize the sport's development in the communist nation if nothing was done.

"As long as you cannot stop it, it will affect football here in a very bad way," he said.