Dinh Bac and his teammates received some 'unpleasant' news ahead of the match against Ninh Binh.

Round 12 of the 2025–2026 V-League promises many notable events, with the highlight being the clash between Hanoi Police Club (CAHN) and Ninh Binh at Hang Day Stadium on February 1st.

However, ahead of this crucial match in the title race, the police team faces a significant disadvantage as they will be without the direct guidance of head coach Alexandre Polking.

According to the latest announcement from the Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF), Mr. Polking is suspended for Round 12 after accumulating three yellow cards since the start of the season. Although this is a technical penalty, it has a considerable impact on Hanoi Police, especially as they prepare to enter this “early final” against their direct competitor.

Currently, Ninh Binh tops the V-League standings with 27 points from 11 matches. Hanoi Police is right behind with 26 points but has played one less game. This means that a victory would allow the Hang Day Stadium team to take the lead. Therefore, the absence of the head coach on the bench is seen as a major loss both tactically and psychologically.

Hanoi Police’s difficulties are compounded as the team recently suffered a shock in the regional competition. A 0-2 defeat to Selangor caused the Vietnamese representative to be eliminated immediately in the group stage of the ASEAN Club Championship. This result somewhat affected the team’s morale, especially as they need stability to maintain their long-term challenge in the V-League.

Nonetheless, Coach Polking’s team received important positive news regarding their squad. Striker Nguyen Dinh Bac has returned after an impressive performance with Vietnam’s U23 team at the 2026 U23 Asian Championship finals. Not only is he a valuable addition to the attack, but Dinh Bac was also honored as the tournament’s top scorer. Notably, he will receive his trophy just before kickoff against Ninh Binh, promising to boost Hanoi Police’s morale.

Besides Coach Polking’s case, Round 12 of the V-League also sees several other suspensions due to players receiving three yellow cards. Those sidelined include Van Vi (Nam Dinh), Hong Phuc (Da Nang), Viet Tu (The Cong – Viettel), Thanh Chung (Hanoi FC), and Onoja Joseph (Ha Tinh). This highlights the intense and fierce nature of the mid-season competition.

Returning to the match at Hang Day, despite lacking their head coach, Hanoi Police is still expected to play a fair and competitive game against Ninh Binh. This is not only a contest to decide rankings but also a true test of the team’s resilience in their ambition to claim the 2025–2026 V-League championship.