In the early hours of September 3rd, during the match between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia, Đỗ Duy Mạnh’s red card (second yellow) and the referee’s penalty decision became a turning point. The home team easily equalized from the penalty and finished the game 3-1, leaving Vietnamese fans deeply disappointed.
Behind the disappointment, viewers debated heavily over the 51st-minute incident. Number 7 Alfaraj took a close-range shot. Duy Mạnh blocked it. The ball bounced off player number 2’s thigh and then hit his hand. Initially, referee Ilgiz Tantashev didn’t blow the whistle, but after consulting VAR, he changed his decision. He gave Duy Mạnh a second yellow card and awarded a penalty to the home team.
Expressing his opinion, Liên Quân commentator Tùng Hoạ Mi said: “I have no issue with the penalty… But clearly the player threw his whole body to block the ball, it hit his body first and then accidentally his hand. It wasn’t intentional handball… and it’s already a second yellow card, that’s too harsh…”
“To me, Duy Mạnh still made a brave play!”
His comments sparked mixed reactions. Some supported him, but many felt the commentator let emotions cloud his judgment. One user even told him to “be more civil” when cheering and analyzing football.
Reacting to insulting comments, Tùng Hoạ Mi fiercely defended his stance, even swearing: “If it was the first yellow, fine, but it’s already a damn second card, they checked VAR and still gave the second one, I don’t get why they even reviewed it @@!”
He also directly addressed critics questioning his knowledge and analysis skills: “There are so many self-righteous people telling me not to watch football anymore, acting like they know the rules perfectly. Even the rule-makers are still debating this situation, but you act like saints with zero feeling about the play, and act superior over your own player who threw his whole body to block the ball. Yeah, you’re so great.”
Everyone has their own views when watching football, and debates are inevitable. However, it’s unfortunate when arguments get out of hand and harm the community’s image. This debate is still ongoing with no clear end in sight.
