Fans and the head of the Vietnamese football delegation to Malaysia yesterday warned about the possible repetition of the use of laser beams against their goalkeeper in the first leg of Vietnam’s semifinal against the hosts at the 2014 Southeast Asian Football Championship, or AFF Suzuki Cup, tomorrow in Kuala Lumpur.

Acting on behalf of Japanese coach Toshiya Miura of Vietnam, delegation head Mai Duc Chung told local media in Kuala Lumpur to remind their fans not to do unfair things such as projecting laser beams and setting off firecrackers in the stands.

“I just want the media to help tell their fans not to use laser beams and firecrackers during the match to ensure good and fair football.

“I have to say this because it happened four years ago here in Kuala Lumpur during a semifinal match between Vietnam and Malaysia at the AFF Suzuki Cup.

“Some fans in the stands shined laser beams toward the Vietnamese goalkeeper many times and it caused him to lose concentration and feel disoriented,” Chung was quoted by Thanh Nien newspaper as saying.

Van Dinh Thoa, a Vietnamese fan working in Malaysia, recalled that Malaysian fans directed laser beams at the eyes of Vietnamese footballers when they had the ball in the semifinal match at Bukit Jalil Stadium in 2010.

Vietnam suffered a 0-2 loss in the match.

In a talk with Vietnamese media yesterday, Chung praised the good food at the Hilton Petaling Jaya Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.

The food is delicious and guarantees the nutritional health of the players, he added.

Vietnam is scheduled to play the two-leg semifinal with Malaysia on December 7 and 11. The Philippines will clash with Thailand on December 6 and 10.

All of the semifinal games are staged on a home and away basis – a mode which will also be applied to the finals slated for December 17 and 20.

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