To share without turning into 'stealing'

A week before the Lunar New Year holiday, the Department of Physical Education and Sports received a warning and criticism from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for its slow handling of the scandal in the National Gymnastics team. This is a stain on Vietnamese sports that has lasted from the end of 2023 to the new year 2024 and has yet to end.

However, this is not just a sad story of management mistakes. From another perspective, the story of athletes sharing bonuses with coaches is like an "unwritten rule" that makes people both inside and outside the sports industry ponder. There is a thin line between sharing and "stealing".

Athlete Pham Nhu Phuong accused the coach of "embezzling bonus money".

Sharing with VTC News, a coach recounted the heartbreaking memory of being left out of the list of corporate awards at the local unit’s achievement recognition ceremony. Apart from the certificate of merit and rewards according to state regulations from the managing unit, this coach was not recognized in any other form when his students achieved high results in international competitions even though he himself was a member of the national team.

The athletes wanted to donate their personal bonuses to the coach who had trained them for many years since they were young. However, the coach firmly refused.

Perhaps in many other sports, the so-called "unwritten rule" in the sharing of bonuses between teachers and students is also formed like that. The work of coaches is considered a silent dedication and when honored, they are not recognized as much as the main characters - the athletes - which is understandable.

Many times, coaches do not ask athletes to share money - which is both offensive and against the rules, but the students themselves want to share with their teachers. They choose to return the gifts as a way of showing gratitude. The "unwritten rule" becomes a happy story and everyone feels comfortable.

In any sport, to achieve success, there needs to be a whole team behind the athletes. From the coaching staff, leaders, logistics staff and even the "silent" people who are the "blue team" in training.

The story of athlete Pham Nhu Phuong makes the sports industry ponder the "unwritten rules" in dividing prize money.

Mr. T. (character's name has been changed) - a former communications officer of a professional football team, recounted the story of receiving a year-end bonus of... several hundred thousand dong. Because the club had no other mechanism, the remaining members decided to contribute money to give to Mr. T., to thank the person who "braves the sun and rain to follow the players' training and competition schedule".

At some other clubs in the V.League, the coaching staff and players set their own rules to set aside bonuses (given by the club's leadership and sponsors after each win) to thank logistics and office staff. This is a voluntary fund.

There would be no controversy if the sharing was not distorted. It is good that athletes want to thank their teachers, but if they do not do so, there is no problem of criticism. However, the story takes a very different turn when the element of coercion appears. The line between "sharing" and "stealing" lies in the thoughts, emotions and transparency of the money.

How to keep sharing from turning into embezzlement?

There is only one way to solve this, don't just leave it as an "understood" situation, be clear from the start and increase transparency. Athletes have the right to choose not to follow this "unwritten rule". They - the rightful owners of the prize money - must have the right to decide.

Mai Phuong

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