Dong Nai Club imposes penalties; Tan Sinh and Van Son admit fault in Dinh Bac mistreatment case

The dressing room never lies — only listeners lack patience. On the morning of September 22, Dong Nai Club leaders walked straight into the dressing room before the VFF Disciplinary Committee could announce its penalty. The 0-3 loss to CAHN at home two days earlier left behind more than a bad result. Two players were fined, one was internally suspended, and a new dispute about refereeing began to take shape. On September 20, at Dong Nai Stadium, CAHN led 3-0 by the 78th minute. Striker Dinh Bac became the focal point after repeated fouls. In the 16th minute, defender Le Van Son elbowed Dinh Bac in the face twice in the same passage and received a direct red card. In the 78th minute, center-back Huynh Tan Sinh kicked Dinh Bac from behind twice, causing the striker to fall, but referee Le Vu Linh only showed a yellow card and VAR did not intervene. The incident triggered a strong reaction from fans. Dong Nai reacted quickly. On September 22, the club announced fines of 20 million VND each for Le Van Son and Huynh Tan Sinh, plus a one-match internal suspension for Tan Sinh. Both players proactively admitted their faults. On the same day, the VFF imposed a retroactive two-match ban and a 10 million VND fine on Tan Sinh. Le Van Son received an automatic two-match ban after his direct red card. The two incidents should be separated. The 16th-minute elbow came early in the match, during intense duels. The 78th-minute kick came when Dong Nai were already 0-3 down, reflecting frustration and emotional collapse. Based on my experience covering matches, a calm player rarely kicks an opponent from behind twice when the score has already been decided. The real story is the officiating gap. Tan Sinh received only a yellow card and VAR did not intervene, yet he was later banned for two matches by the VFF. If the referee and VAR had acted correctly on the pitch, the retroactive penalty might not have been needed. Dong Nai responded to protect their reputation, but the club cannot erase the refereeing question. The total fines amount to 50 million VND, but the main deterrent comes from suspensions. Losing two defensive mainstays in round three is a squad problem. The next things to watch are Dinh Bac's injury status, Dong Nai's discipline in upcoming matches, and whether the VAR protocol will be reviewed after this case. The season is a symphony — the beat keeper knows when to strike and when to stay silent. Dong Nai has just struck a strong note. But their redemption must begin in quiet training sessions, without cameras and without spectators, where the two punished players can show whether they have truly learned.