Seven Vietnamese football players surround referee, sparking intense controversy

In the 16th round of the First Division, the referee unexpectedly "changed his whistle" and denied a penalty after consulting his assistant, leading seven Dong Thap players to surround him in fierce protest.

The match between Dong Thap and Khanh Hoa in the 16th round of the First Division on April 24 witnessed one of the most controversial moments of the season. From the 22nd minute, the incident where Romario Alves fell in the penalty area heated up the game with the initial decision awarding a penalty to the home team.

However, after consulting assistant Nguyen Quoc Binh, referee Tran Manh Hung surprisingly reversed his decision. He held the ball and "changed his whistle," determining no penalty for Dong Thap. This situation became a major turning point, affecting not only the psychological aspect but also directly influencing the subsequent course of the match.

Immediate reactions erupted from both sides. Earlier, Khanh Hoa players had strongly protested, believing the contact was insufficient for a penalty. When the decision was overturned, Dong Thap players expressed their dissatisfaction. Le Van Quy received a yellow card for arguing, while at least seven home players, including captain Bui Ngoc Thinh, surrounded the referee.

Nevertheless, replays showed the contact between Romario Alves and the Khanh Hoa defender was indeed unclear. The referee's decision to correct himself was therefore considered justified. However, what is noteworthy is that his subsequent management continued to spark debate.

Just one minute after the match resumed, Le Van Quy – who had just received a yellow card – made a rough challenge on midfielder Tran Dinh Bao. Although this incident was deemed worthy of a second yellow card, meaning a red card, referee Manh Hung overlooked it, clearly disadvantaging Khanh Hoa.

The real turning point came in the 27th minute when Romario Alves redeemed himself by scoring the opening goal. The Brazilian foreigner headed accurately, this time leaving no controversy. The goal helped Dong Thap relieve pressure and gradually control the game against an opponent whose form was declining.

Despite creating more opportunities in the remainder, it was only in the 90+4th minute that Dong Thap secured a 2-0 victory. The "scorer" was again Khanh Hoa's defender Le Cao Hoai An with an own goal, ending a highly turbulent match.

This victory is only Dong Thap's second triumph after 16 rounds, but holds significant importance in the relegation battle. Meanwhile, Khanh Hoa continues to decline with their fourth loss in the last five matches, falling to 7th place with 23 points and facing considerable pressure in the final stage of the season.