The football fan who fired a flare that led to the hospitalization of another spectator at a stadium in Hanoi last week has been identified and arrested for investigation of causing public disorder, police said on Monday.

The man, 35-year-old Vu Trung Truc, is a supporter of Nam Dinh FC, which were routed 1-6 by hosts Hanoi FC in the 22nd round of the V. League 1, Vietnam’s top-tier football league, at Hang Day Stadium in the Vietnamese capital on September 11.

Truc, hailing from the northern province of Nam Dinh, had bought a total of 20 flares from an online shop and decided to bring eight of them, including two parachute flares, to Hang Day, according to police of Hanoi’s Dong Da District.

He managed to pass security checks by concealing the banned items in a loud speaker.

Around the 55th minute of the match, when the score was 4-1 for the Hanoi FC, the man fired a parachute flare from Stand B, reserved for Nam Dinh FC fans, to Stand A, where supporters of the hosts were seated.

The device hit a female fan and seriously burned her thigh. She had to undergo two surgeries for complete treatment.

Shortly after realizing that his flare hit another spectator, Truc left the stadium.

Vu Trung Truc is seen at the police station in Dong Da District, Hanoi. Photo: Ha Linh / Tuoi Tre

At Dong Da police station, Truc told officers he had directed the flare to Stand A for fear that it would hit the ceiling of Stand B, where he was seated, not expecting that it would hit anyone once fired.

The man said that he has deep regret for what he did, expressing his wish to be forgiven by the victim.

“I also wish that my act will be tolerated by the law,” he said.

Meanwhile, Tran Dac Chuong, 18, also a Nam Dinh resident, was identified as the one who kicked a police officer three times during a stand-off at the same match.

Dong Da police said they will continue the investigation to identify other people involving in the incident.

On Friday, Hanoi FC and Nam Dinh FC were each slapped with a VND85 million (US$3,655) fine, while the Vietnamese capital’s football club also received a stadium ban for the remaining of the 2019-20 season of V. League 1.

Hanoi FC have to play two home games at the top-tier Vietnamese tourney with no spectators, while Nam Dinh FC fans are banned from cheering for their club at the stadium in two next away matches.

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