A deputy chair of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has had his resignation approved by football officials, amid public pressure over his inability to find sponsorships for the federation and the wrongdoings uncovered at a national sports complex he once headed, local media reported on Tuesday.

The VFF executive board had received Can Van Nghia’s resignation from his position as the deputy president of the organization, Le Khanh Hai, president of the federation, said the same day as he chaired a meeting.

The participants in the meeting then approved Nghia’s resignation letter, according to media reports.

Nghia was elected deputy president in charge of finding sponsorships and finances for the VFF on December 8, 2018, to the surprise of football fans.

He had retired as director of the My Dinh National Sports Complex in Hanoi on September 1, 2018.

Nghia beat three business owners at a VFF grand meeting to take up the position although he had been considered the weakest of the four candidate for the seat.

The football official then vowed to find VND400 billion (US$17 million) in sponsorship during his 2018-22 term at the VFF.

But Nghia has raised nothing for the football federation ever since, according to the football governing body.

To make matters worse, tens of businesses leasing land at the My Dinh National Sports Complex have filed complaints to central government agencies about wrongdoings there under the directorship of Nghia.  

In early 2019, state auditors found many irregularities in land lease at the sports complex.

The complex still defaults on a debt worth tens of billions of Vietnamese dong in land rent (VND1 billion = $43,000).

On May 6 this year, government inspectors announced an inspection of the sports complex regarding its use and management of land and public property in 2009-2018.

In July, a conclusion on this comprehensive inspection will be released in regard to the sports complex under Nghia’s leadership.

Given such pressure and public calls for him to step down as VFF deputy president, Nghia tendered his resignation.

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