VFF does not agree to let HAGL Club change its name

On November 10, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) issued an official dispatch in response to the request to change the name of Hoang Anh Gia Lai Football Club. Previously, the mountain town football team sent official dispatch No. 153/CV-HAGL requesting VFF to agree to use the new name "LPBank Hoang Anh Gia Lai Football Club" in the professional and youth tournament system, starting from round 4 of Night Wolf V.League 2023/2024.

Based on Article 8 of the Professional Football Regulations, VFF determined that HAGL's request to change its name was not appropriate.

VFF does not agree to let HAGL Club change its name.

According to professional football regulations, the club name “must not include the name and/or logo of a third party, whether the party is a commercial partner or sponsor of the club”. In the case of HAGL, the third party is LPBank.

In addition, the request to change the name was sent to VFF “while the season is in progress”. Clause 4, Article 8 of the Professional Football Regulations does not allow this. Up to now, the 2023/2024 V.League season has been held for 3 rounds.

In early November, HAGL confirmed the signing of a comprehensive cooperation contract with LPBank. This was the first time the team changed its name after 20 years of competing in the V.League. The decision to change the name was partly due to Mr. Duc's financial difficulties and the impact on the level of investment in the team.

The review and approval of proposals that are currently not in accordance with the provisions of the Vietnam Professional Football Regulations are under the authority of the VFF Executive Board. If HAGL wishes the VFF Executive Board to consider changing the name as an exception, the VFF requests that HAGL send a written request to the Executive Board to change the name and approve the application of the exception, and that the name change will only be used in domestic tournaments.

If HAGL participates in continental tournaments, the team must comply with AFC regulations on names in the system. In addition, the business must also be renamed to match the new name of the club so that the VFF has a basis to change the name according to the provisions of Clause 1, Article 8 of the Professional Football Regulations.

The VFF dispatch stated: “HAGL Football Club has a tradition, has made many contributions to Vietnamese football, and is a leading youth football center. Maintaining and developing the HAGL Football Club brand promotes local community engagement, the connection between fans and the traditional football team.

VFF hopes that the club will carefully consider the name change proposal, harmonizing the interests of the sponsor and preserving the identity and tradition of a professional club."

Mai Phuong

Source: https://vtc.vn/vff-khong-dong-y-cho-clb-hagl-doi-ten-ar833240.html