Elbow Strike and Hot Heads: What Stain is V-League Painting on Itself?

In the 15th minute at Hang Day Stadium, the crowd erupted - not for a goal, but for an elbow jab delivered by Dong Nai's defender Van Son into the face of Dinh Bac. Referee Le Vu Linh immediately showed a red card, but the atmosphere had shifted from football to a real battle. I have followed Vietnamese football for over three decades, from my early days as a young reporter in Madrid to becoming an editor in Liverpool, England, and I have never ceased to be astonished by those moments when players forget they are playing a sport. The third round V-League match between Cong An Ha Noi and Dong Nai ended 3-0 for the hosts, but that victory was completely overshadowed by the violent scenes. Not only was there Van Son's dirty play, but immediately after, Dong Nai defender Tan Sinh repeatedly kicked Dinh Bac's legs during a challenge, causing the striker to fall. The referee only issued a yellow card - a decision many fans considered too lenient. On forums, the fan community shared endlessly. They not only condemned the players' actions but also criticized the officiating. One wrote: "Football is meant to teach, not to destroy opponents. Where is the noble spirit of sportsmanship?" Another recalled the incident involving Van Hau a few weeks ago, when he kicked Doan Ngoc Tan and was suspended for 4 matches and fined 20 million VND. "Just weeks ago, Van Hau kicked an opponent. Now Tan Sinh and Van Son attack Dinh Bac in such a brutal manner," a frustrated fan said. But let me pause at a different angle. Dinh Bac, a young talent, is not entirely innocent. In the situation where he received a yellow card, he provoked his opponent. His showboating style and taunting made him a target. Not to excuse violence, but young players need to be taught to control themselves and protect themselves intelligently. As I often write: "Each season that passes is a closed book; the careful reader will find themselves within it." For Dinh Bac, that book is teaching him to avoid the traps of his own ego. The problem lies in the disciplinary system. Van Son received a red card, but Tan Sinh only got a yellow despite his dangerous kick from behind. Many opinions call for video review and supplementary punishment. I believe that without strict sanctions, violence will continue. Football is the only place where adults are allowed to cry like children without explanation, but it is not a place to vent anger. When players are not educated in emotional control, they remain forever children with a ball, easily triggered and ruining their own careers. I have witnessed many matches in Europe where violent fouls are handled very severely. But in V-League, the culture of hot heads persists. Perhaps it is time to reconsider how we train young players, not only in technique but also in sportsmanship. If not, Vietnamese football will never reach international heights, as one fan said: "If Vietnamese football cannot eliminate such violent play, we cannot rise." I often remind myself: "I no longer chase the ball like Mbappé, but I have learned to chase its story." And this story is not beautiful at all. Ahead of the FIFA ASEAN Cup, concerns about injuries to key players are real. We have lost too many to injuries, and these kinds of plays only increase the risk. I do not want to blame the referees entirely, but they need consistency in their decisions. A yellow card for a kick from behind like Tan Sinh's is unacceptable. Without change, V-League will continue to nurture unsportsmanlike behavior. What can we hope for? I hope disciplinary bodies will seriously review the incidents via video and impose sanctions strong enough to deter. More importantly, a comprehensive education program for young players, from the earliest ages, on chivalry and emotional control is needed. Football is the joy of millions of Vietnamese, and every violent play is a stain hard to wash away. Let the ball roll on clean grass, and let the tears on the field be only tears of victory and defeat, not of physical pain. Each season that passes is a closed book; the careful reader will find themselves within it. I do not want this season to become a book full of elbows and hot heads. I want it to be a story of growth, of learning to play football with heart, not with hatred. V-League 2026 is at a crossroads, and I choose to believe we will choose the right path.