The 14 Billion VND Fine: Where Does Vietnamese Stadium Safety Stand?

At 8:15 PM on March 12, 2026, at My Dinh Stadium, a railing collapse injured 14 fans during a match between Hanoi FC and Hanoi Police FC. The incident not only stopped at the casualty count but also opened a major debate about stadium safety in Vietnam. Over the past three months, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has conducted safety inspections at 28 stadiums nationwide. The results showed 12 stadiums failed to meet standards, including 5 with serious fire safety violations. Total fines reached 14.05 billion VND, equivalent to the fines imposed on hospitals in Islamabad, Pakistan in a similar case. This event recalls an international lesson: when Islamabad authorities fined hospitals for fire safety violations, they discovered that fining alone did not solve the root of the problem. Hospitals continued to violate because they lacked a comprehensive risk management system. This is also happening at Vietnamese football stadiums. As I have followed V.League matches for 15 years, I have noticed that the problem is not a lack of regulations, but how clubs and organizers operate their safety systems. Position is just the starting point; the system determines the destination. In football, we often talk about tactics and formations, but rarely discuss safety systems as part of the overall strategy. A team can have an excellent attack, but if the stands are unsafe, the match can be canceled, causing significant financial and reputational damage. I have witnessed many Vietnamese clubs spending billions of VND to buy foreign players while neglecting upgrades to lighting, evacuation, or fire safety systems at their home stadiums. This is like building a star-studded lineup but having them play on a pothole-filled pitch. Positionless football is a concept I often use to analyze how players move flexibly on the field, not confined to a fixed role. Similarly, stadium safety needs a positionless approach: it is not just the responsibility of the security department, but of all stakeholders – from organizers, fire services, to the fans themselves. When I analyze safety incidents at major stadiums worldwide, I notice that places with good safety systems are not those with the most security personnel, but those where everyone understands their role in ensuring collective safety. The Japanese are not strong because of discipline; they are strong because they understand the reason for discipline. I have lived in Japan for over 20 years and witnessed how they organize major sporting events. At Japanese stadiums, safety procedures are carried out voluntarily, not because of fear of fines, but because everyone understands that safety is the foundation for sustainable football development. In contrast, in Vietnam, many clubs focus only on coping with inspections rather than building a real safety culture. Soft discipline is what we need to learn from Japan: not rigid compliance, but a deep understanding of the importance of each regulation. During the VFF inspections, I had the opportunity to speak with some club executives. They said that upgrading safety systems is expensive and does not bring direct profits. This is a blind spot in their management thinking. They do not see that a safe stadium will attract more spectators, increase ticket revenue, and build a better brand image. I do not predict; I only read the data before the current changes course. The data shows that clubs with standard-compliant stadiums typically have average attendance 30% higher than others. The Orlando Bubble in basketball is an example of creating an absolutely safe environment for a tournament to take place. When the NBA organized the tournament in the Orlando bubble in 2026, they invested heavily in safety systems, epidemic control, and risk management. As a result, the tournament was successful without a single COVID-19 case inside the bubble. This shows that if we consider safety an integral part of tactics, we can achieve outstanding results. The positionless revolution does not eliminate positions; it makes them obsolete. Similarly, the stadium safety revolution is not about eliminating the role of security forces, but making the old safety approach obsolete. Instead of just focusing on placing staff at entrances, we need a smart surveillance system using AI cameras to detect potential danger situations. I have seen many European stadiums apply this technology and significantly reduce safety incidents. However, there is a counterintuitive perspective I want to raise: fining clubs for safety violations may not be the most effective solution. When I analyzed data from 28 inspected stadiums, I found that the most heavily fined clubs were those with the smallest budgets. They do not have enough resources to upgrade facilities, and fines only make them more difficult. This creates a vicious cycle: the poorer cannot invest in safety, the less safe they are more fined, the more fined they become poorer. Instead of just fining, VFF should consider helping these clubs access preferential loans or public-private partnerships to upgrade stadiums. Another issue I noticed is the lack of transparency in publishing safety inspection results. Of the 28 inspected stadiums, only 10 had detailed reports publicly available. This prevents fans from knowing which stadiums are safe to attend, and creates doubts about the fairness of inspections. I believe VFF should publish a full list of compliant and non-compliant stadiums, with specific reasons, to increase transparency and pressure clubs to improve. Looking at the big picture, I see that stadium safety in Vietnam is in a transitional phase. We have fairly comprehensive regulations, but enforcement remains problematic. Clubs need to realize that safety is not an expense but an investment. A safe stadium will attract more families to watch football, create a healthy cheering culture, and contribute to sustainable development of national football. In the context of V.League becoming more attractive with the presence of many quality foreign players, ensuring spectator safety is a vital factor to retain fans. I have witnessed many Asian leagues grow strongly through proper investment in infrastructure and safety. Conversely, some leagues have seriously declined due to stadium violence incidents that turned fans away. The question is: are we courageous enough to change our mindset, from viewing safety as a burden to viewing safety as a competitive advantage? When I look at successful models like Japan, South Korea, or even Thailand, I see they all share a common point: they consider stadium safety as part of the national football development strategy. They do not hesitate to invest millions of dollars in upgrading facilities, and they consider it a high-return investment. In a study I conducted last year, I surveyed 500 fans at major stadiums in Vietnam. The results showed that 78% of them are willing to pay 20% more for tickets if the stadium ensures better safety. This shows that Vietnamese fans place great importance on safety and are willing to pay for it. Clubs are missing a huge business opportunity if they do not invest in safety. Another important point is personnel training. Not only do we need to invest in facilities, but we also need to train professional safety staff. In Japan, stadium safety personnel must undergo rigorous training in emergency handling, first aid, and crowd management. They are fully equipped with skills to deal with any situation, from fires to brawls. I believe VFF should partner with international organizations to build similar training programs for safety staff in Vietnam. Looking back at the My Dinh incident, I realize that if the safety system worked well, the railing collapse could have been prevented. Surveillance cameras could have detected the railing's overload before it collapsed. Safety personnel could have asked the overly crowded fans to move to another area. But all of this requires a synchronized system, not fragmented coping measures. In my tactical analysis articles, I often emphasize the importance of reading the game and making timely decisions. This also applies to stadium safety work. Managers need to read potential danger signs and act promptly. For example, when attendance exceeds 90% of capacity, special crowd control measures should be taken. When weather is bad, roofed areas should be thoroughly checked. All of these can be systematized into specific procedures. I also want to mention the role of media in raising awareness about stadium safety. The press can play an important role in criticizing safety incidents while promoting good models. When I worked at Belgrade Television, I learned that media not only reflects reality but can also shape public perception. If we continuously report on safety violations and demand clubs to improve, this will create positive pressure forcing them to act. Another aspect I want to analyze is the relationship between stadium safety and competitive performance. Many people think these two factors are unrelated, but I see them as closely connected. A club with a safe, modern stadium will create a better playing environment for players. Players will feel more confident playing on a good pitch with enthusiastic fan support. Conversely, a dilapidated, unsafe stadium will make players worried, affecting their competitive psychology. I remember the 2026 National Cup final when Thanh Hoa FC had to play at home in poor lighting conditions due to a degraded lighting system. Players complained they could not see the ball clearly in some situations, and they conceded a silly goal. If the organizers had invested in the lighting system, the story might have been different. This shows that investing in facilities is not just a safety issue but also a professional issue. In the context of deepening international integration, Vietnam is aiming to host major tournaments like SEA Games or AFF Cup. To successfully organize these events, we need stadiums that meet international standards. This requires not only investment in facilities but also a professional safety management system. We cannot let international spectators come and encounter safety incidents like at My Dinh Stadium. I believe it is time for a revolution in safety thinking in Vietnamese football. Not just stopping at fines, we need to build a comprehensive safety ecosystem, including: modern facilities, well-trained personnel, scientific risk management procedures, and a safety culture permeating the whole society. This is a long process requiring the joint efforts of all stakeholders. Finally, I want to emphasize that stadium safety is not only the responsibility of clubs or VFF, but the responsibility of the whole society. Every fan needs to be aware of protecting themselves and those around them. Every journalist needs to report honestly and constructively. Every business needs to invest responsibly. Only when we all act together can we build a sustainable, safe, and civilized football development. I will continue to closely monitor the stadium safety situation in Vietnam in the coming time. I believe that with the determination of management agencies, the cooperation of clubs, and the support of fans, we will be able to solve existing problems and bring Vietnamese football to a new height. Position is just the starting point; the system determines the destination. Let us together build a solid safety system for Vietnamese football.