Foreign player in V-League encounters incident with fans' flares

Hai Phong Club's foreign player Joaquim Lupeta encountered a flare-related incident prior to a V-League game.

The match between Hai Phong Club and Ha Tinh in round 19 of V-League 2025/26 on April 18 evening was overshadowed by a serious incident involving flares, directly affecting the visiting team's lineup. Before kick-off, foreign striker Joaquim Lupeta unexpectedly had to be hospitalized for examination after close exposure to flares ignited by Hai Phong fans outside the stadium. The flare's temperature can reach thousands of degrees Celsius, causing the Portuguese player to feel discomfort in his facial area.

According to Vnexpress, before the Ha Tinh match, Hai Phong fans gathered early, lit flares, celebrated, and approached the players' transport vehicle to greet them. One person swung a flare as players came near, causing an unintended accident. Subsequently, Joaquim Lupeta was taken to the hospital for examination. Fortunately, he did not suffer serious issues.

However, the incident forced coach Chu Dinh Nghiem to alter personnel plans at the last minute. Lupeta, originally slated to start, was removed from the starting lineup, and Jourdain Fletcher was deployed as a substitute. Lupeta later entered the field in the 42nd minute when Fletcher sustained an injury, but he could not make a difference for Hai Phong Club.

In a context of disrupted and disjointed attacking line, Hai Phong faced many difficulties in executing their gameplay. The home team Hong Linh Ha Tinh capitalized well on opportunities and scored the sole goal in the 20th minute by Charles Atshimene. This goal also decided the match's outcome.

The 0-1 loss ended the port city team's two-match winning streak. Meanwhile, Ha Tinh secured all three crucial points to improve their league position and create a safer gap in the relegation battle. The flare incident once again sounded a warning bell regarding safety issues on the pitch in V-League.