Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has banned nine players from Vissai Ninh Binh Club from ever playing again after the exposure of a betting and match-fixing scandal.

The VFF ruled on December 25 that each of the nine players will be fined VND20m and will be banned from participating in any official football tournaments.

On August 25, Ninh Binh Province People’s Court sentenced Tran Manh Dung, the leader of the match-fixing scandal, to 30 months’ imprisonment. Other players were given suspended sentences for betting.

During the AFC Cup match against Malaysia’s Kelantan on March 18, Vissai Ninh Binh led 2-1 in the first half, but lost 2-3. Several players changed their style in the second half, which on examination of recordings of the game led authorities to investigate. The players admitted to placing a total of VND800m in bets against their own club.

The VFF is also examining the behaviour of six players from Dong Nai FC. They were detained in July for allegedly fixing the outcome of a match against Than Quang Ninh FC in V-League, one of the top professional football leagues in Vietnam.

Match-fixing scandals and the poor performances of many players have become endemic in recent years, causing fans to lose faith in their teams and turn their backs on domestic football.