Vietnam elite clubs demoted for match-fixing

V-League club East Asia Bank-Pomina Steel (EABPS), whose officials are being prosecuted for match-fixing, has been demoted by the Vietnam Football Federation to the first division, AFCMedia reported. The VFF also demoted first division club Can Tho, which has also being indicted in the raging match-rigging scandal, to the second division.

The Thanh Nien newspaper reported that the punishment was mild compared to the earlier tough stand of top VFF officials who said that EABPS would be demoted to the second division as its managing director and entire coaching board were proved to be guilty after police investigations. However, at a recent meeting here, the VFF Standing Committee unanimously agreed to demote the club just one level, a source told the newspaper. The VFF is likely to fill the vacant places with other clubs.

See also: V-League coach and ref arrested for corruption (10 Nov)