V-League 'heated' due to penalty cards

The statistics of yellow and red cards up to the current point of V-League 2025/26 not only reflect the intensity of the matches but also clearly reveal the character of each team and coach, where both the championship race and relegation battle are fiercely "heated".

Looking at the list of penalty cards this season,Dong A Thanh Hoais leading with 56 yellow cards. This is the highest number in the league. Averaging over 3 cards per match, the Thanh region team clearly shows a uncompromising playing style.

The team coached by Mai Xuan Hop is ready for collisions and fierce disputes in every situation, as demonstrated in the 0-1 loss againstThe Cong Viettel,where Thanh Hoa received up to 5 yellow cards.

Notably, Thanh Nam's collision that injured Nata at the end of the match but only resulted in a yellow card became a focal point of controversy.

Thanh Hoa's former coach, Velizar Popov, became furious and then reacted strongly, leading referee Nguyen Viet Duan to immediately issue a red card.

Ironically, Thanh Hoa's match against The Cong Viettel was a game with up to 12 yellow cards. These are also the two clubs leading V-League in penalty card numbers, with over 100 yellow cards issued after round 18.

Thanh Hoa Club is currently in the lower group of the standings with 16 points, only 4 points above the danger zone. The cards received by the Thanh region club reflect the reality that when fighting to avoid relegation, the team is forced to play with higher intensity and risk.

On the other hand, The Cong Viettel, a club competing for the championship, is not far behind, having received 50 yellow cards and 2 red cards. In the match against Thanh Hoa alone, the military-uniform team received 7 yellow cards. This shows that intensity exists not only in the bottom group but is also a "weapon" for teams competing for titles.

A significant mark in Viettel's playing style comes from coach Velizar Popov. The Bulgarian coach brings an energetic football style, strong pressing, and no fear of collisions. But accompanying that is a fiery temperament, often pushing matches to tense climaxes.

The red card at minute 90+9 in the match against Thanh Hoa is the latest example, continuing a long series of penalties he has received in over 100 V-League matches. Coach Popov has received around 20 penalty cards while working in Vietnam.

Not only The Cong Viettel or Thanh Hoa, many other teams also feature in the "top penalty card list". Among the top 5 teams receiving many cards, third place is currently Hoang Anh Gia Lai with 42 yellow cards, Cong An Ha Noi has 39 yellow cards and 2 red cards, while SHB Da Nang has 38 yellow cards and 1 red card.

The common point is that these teams are all under great pressure in the championship race and relegation battle. It reflects a clear trend: teams with specific goals play more intensely. Thus, V-League becomes more tense.

When the number of penalty cards rises high, the risks of matches becoming fragmented, controversies escalating, viewers feeling weary, and the league's image being affected are real. Strong personalities like Coach Popov bring emotion, but if uncontrolled, they easily become "hot spots".