The Vietnam Football Federation tightens referee management for the 2026 season

The Vietnam Football Federation organized the opening ceremony of the referee training course for the national women's and youth football competitions in 2026, with participation from VFF officials and the Referee Committee.

On the afternoon of January 2, 2026, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) held the opening ceremony of the referee training course for duties at the national women's and youth football tournaments in 2026. Attending the ceremony were Mr. Nguyễn Văn Phú, General Secretary of VFF, and Mr. Đặng Thanh Hạ, Head of the VFF Referee Committee.

This year's training course gathers a total of 66 referees and assistant referees, including: 12 female referees, 14 female assistant referees, 4 assistant referees for non-professional competitions, 19 referees for youth tournaments, and 17 assistant referees for youth tournaments. According to the schedule, on January 3, participants will undergo physical fitness tests before continuing with specialized training. The course will last until the end of January 5, 2026.

At the opening ceremony, Head of the VFF Referee Committee Đặng Thanh Hạ emphasized the role, responsibility, and dedication required in refereeing. He stated that for each trainee, their professional path truly begins now, and to succeed, sacrifice alone is insufficient; referees must continuously strive to improve their skills, physical fitness, and professional resilience. The committee head also expressed hope that trainees would study with a positive and serious attitude, viewing the training course as an essential foundation for pursuing a professional and effective refereeing career.

On behalf of VFF leadership, General Secretary Nguyễn Văn Phú acknowledged and highly valued the role of refereeing in the recent outstanding achievements of Vietnamese football, especially contributing to creating a quality playing field for players and the success of youth teams in 2025 such as the U17 men's, U17 women's, and U20 teams qualifying for continental finals. General Secretary Nguyễn Văn Phú affirmed that these achievements owe much to effective match management, with referees being a crucial link.

Mr. Nguyễn Văn Phú noted that immediately following the training course, national women's and youth competitions such as the U19 Women's Championship, U16 Women's Championship, and tournaments for U17, U16, U15, and U13 boys will commence continuously throughout 2026. This requires the referee team to be well-prepared, resilient, and professionally competent. VFF leaders expressed the desire for referees, especially young ones, to continue growing, seize opportunities, and transform the knowledge and experience gained from the training into practical effectiveness on the field, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of Vietnamese football in the coming years.

The referee training course for the national women's and youth football competitions in 2026 is expected to be an important starting point, helping the referee team enter the new season with a strong sense of responsibility, enhanced expertise, and comprehensive preparation for their duties throughout 2026.