On May 27, Bac Ninh Provincial Police announced that their Investigation Agency had filed charges against 10 suspects for “Copyright and Related Rights Infringement” under Article 225 of the Criminal Code.
According to investigations, around February 2026, authorities monitoring cyberspace discovered that the “Bún Chả TV” website was illegally streaming multiple football and sports leagues that had official broadcasting rights in Vietnam.
The site attracted hundreds of thousands of daily visitors eager to watch the English Premier League, Champions League, and other tournaments. With Vietnamese commentary and a professionally designed interface, it quickly gained a large audience.
Beyond illegal sports streaming, the platform embedded ads and redirected users to unauthorized online gambling sites to profit from advertising and betting.
In response, Bac Ninh Police launched a special investigation. Verification showed this operation was well-organized with strict task assignments and multiple tactics to evade law enforcement.
The suspects registered domains abroad, used multiple proxy layers to hide IP addresses, managed the website with fake accounts, and communicated mainly through encrypted apps. Payments to members were made in cryptocurrency to avoid detection.
Investigators identified a suspect based in Hanoi as the organizer and operator of the entire “Bún Chả TV” system.
The group created separate departments for programming, website operations, content, commentators, advertising, SEO, and accounting, functioning like an “underground company” online.
Notably, most members communicated, assigned tasks, and handled payments online, so many did not know each other personally. They frequently changed devices, switched website domains, and moved across regions to avoid surveillance.
According to police, the system operated professionally. The programming team maintained technical infrastructure and streaming, the operations team updated schedules and links, commentators engaged viewers live, while advertising and SEO teams drove traffic to the site.
The main revenue came from ads and directing viewers to online betting sites. Some broadcasts even included betting tips and score predictions to encourage gambling.
Participants were paid well, with commentators earning between 50 to 70 million VND per person per month.
On May 15, the special task force coordinated with police from multiple provinces to summon suspects for questioning. Searches of residences and workplaces seized 38 computers, 42 mobile phones, recording devices, bank accounts, and software used for illegal streaming.
Currently, Bac Ninh Police continue working with the Ministry of Public Security to expand the investigation and identify all involved for strict legal action.
Authorities also urge anyone involved to surrender to receive leniency under the law.
