UK consul general spectates Ho Chi Minh City football derby
Tuesday, June 16, 2020, 10:22 GMT+7
British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Ian Gibbons and his spouse were among the spectators of a derby of Vietnam’s top-flight professional football tournament V-League 1 last week.
In the league's fourth round on Friday evening, Ho Chi Minh City FC hosted Saigon FC at Thong Nhat Stadium in District 10.
As their names suggest, the two teams hail from the same city.
Friday’s match was highlighted by the presence of British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Ian Gibbons and his wife in the stands.
As fans of Saigon FC, they came to Thong Nhat Stadium to watch the game live and cheer for their favorite team.
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| British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Ian Gibbons and his wife, both in pink, watch the Ho Chi Minh City FC - Saigon FC game at in the V-League 1’s fourth round in Ho Chi Minh City, June 12, 2020. Photo: Dang Hoang / Tuoi Tre Contributor |
Eventually, Saigon FC defeated Ho Chi Minh City FC 1-0 to lead the table with eight points, tying with Viettel and Song Lam Nghe An..
Ho Chi Minh City FC are in sixth place with seven points.
The V-League 1 is the top professional football league in Vietnam, and it is controlled by the Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company.
It is contested by 14 clubs who play one another on a home and away basis.
The team finishing at the top at the end of the season are crowned champions and will qualify for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League group stage.
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| British Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Ian Gibbons and his wife, both in pink, meet leaders of Saigon FC’s management board after the Ho Chi Minh City FC - Saigon FC game in the V-League 1’s fourth round in Ho Chi Minh City, June 12, 2020. Photo: Dang Hoang / Tuoi Tre Contributor |
The 2020 season of the tournament was postponed from March 15 after its first two rounds had been played behind closed doors to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
It was only restarted on June 5 with a set of adjustments post-pandemic.
Saigon FC were founded in 2011 as a team in Hanoi and relocated to Ho Chi Minh City in 2016.
The club have never won the V-League 1 title.
Ho Chi Minh City FC were established in 1975 as Cang Saigon (Saigon Port) and have been league champions four times, according to their website.
Ian Gibbons was appointed Her Majesty’s Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City in March 2016.
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| Supporters cheer for Saigon FC at the club’s game against Ho Chi Minh City FC at in the V-League 1’s fourth round in Ho Chi Minh City, June 12, 2020. Photo: Dang Hoang / Tuoi Tre Contributor |
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| Foreign supporters cheer for Saigon FC at the club’s game against Ho Chi Minh City FC in the V-League 1’s fourth round in Ho Chi Minh City, June 12, 2020. Photo: Dang Hoang / Tuoi Tre Contributor |
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| Foreign supporters cheer for Saigon FC at the club’s game against Ho Chi Minh City FC in the V-League 1’s fourth round in Ho Chi Minh City, June 12, 2020. Photo: Dang Hoang / Tuoi Tre Contributor |
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| Players of Saigon FC wave at supporters after their game against Ho Chi Minh City FC in the V-League 1’s fourth round in Ho Chi Minh City, June 12, 2020. Photo: Dang Hoang / Tuoi Tre Contributor |
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