Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF) has announced 2 matches approved by FIFA to use VAR in round 6 of V-League 2023 - 2024.
That is the match between Thanh Hoa Club and Ho Chi Minh City Club at Thanh Hoa Stadium, taking place at 6:00 p.m. on February 16, and the highlight match between The Cong Viettel Club and Hanoi Club at Hang Day Stadium, taking place at 7:15 p.m. on February 17.
For Thanh Hoa FC coach Velizar Popov, the appearance of VAR is a good sign. In sensitive situations such as awarding penalties, issuing red cards, or confirming whether a goal is valid or not, the referee's decisions no longer come purely from an individual.
Coach Velizar Popov
The referee team and video assistants support, plus video technology that allows the main referee to review slow-motion situations if necessary, the referee's decisions will be supported, scrutinized carefully and thoroughly. As a result, the level of accuracy and reliability in decisions increases.
The effectiveness of VAR from the world's top tournaments, or currently the V-League, has been evaluated more fairly. Referees' mistakes in matches with VAR have decreased, decisions are also more convincing, although the downside is that the match is interrupted many times.
First of all, this will indirectly "cool down" the very hot behavior of coach Popov in recent times.
Coach Popov is entering his second season working in Vietnam. He made a strong impression with the National Cup and National Super Cup championships, both in the 2023 season. The personality and coaching class of the Bulgarian coach bring a highlight to the V-League.
However, along with his talent, Mr. Popov is very hot-tempered, directly attacking the referee many times, receiving 2 yellow cards for his hot-tempered and uncontrolled statements.
He once mocked the referee and doubted VAR in the match Thanh Hoa Club drew 2-2 with Ha Tinh Club in the opening round, or later skipped the press conference in Thanh Hoa Club's 1-1 draw at Viettel Club's The Cong Stadium because he was not feeling well. VPF then sent a letter reminding Thanh Hoa Club about Mr. Popov's behavior. In this match, Coach Popov's team received a penalty in the second half's extra time.
Coach Popov
VAR helps referees' decisions to be more accurate. Referee Nguyen Manh Hai is expected to officiate the match between Thanh Hoa and Ho Chi Minh City.
After the match against Binh Dinh FC, Mr. Popov once again attacked the referee. He reacted violently from the field to the press conference room, which was a mistake that caused him to be reminded and warned many times. Now that Thanh Hoa FC's match has VAR, hopefully the Bulgarian coach will be more restrained, although even before that, when some of Thanh Hoa's matches still had VAR, Mr. Popov was still... as hot-tempered as usual.
The bad news for Mr. Popov is that the Bulgarian coach needs to be more careful in his statements. Because in every match with VAR, the attack on the referee will be directed not only at the main referee, but also the VAR assistant team, or many people involved in the operation of the match.
Coaches attacking referees is a common occurrence in football. For a coach as hot-tempered and outspoken as a "bomb" like Popov, this reaction is even more understandable. But understandable does not mean easy to sympathize with.
Thanh Hoa Club is playing well with second place in the table after 5 rounds.
Last season, Mr. Popov helped Thanh Hoa FC fly high, but because of his impulsive reactions that led to receiving... 5 yellow cards, he was not nominated for the best coach award. That is still a regret for experts, because the talent of the Bulgarian coach has been recognized.
He built a Thanh Hoa club that plays together, is strong, and has become the hardest team to beat in the V-League. This season, the Thanh Hoa team has not lost a single match, despite having to "replace" nearly half of the team and say goodbye to many good players.
Everything would be more perfect for Coach Popov, if he could control himself better. Hopefully the head of the Eastern European talent will not be hot in this weekend's match.
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