Vietnam police charge 21 in match-fixing ring
The network is accused of manipulating results in domestic football and basketball competitions while operating illegal online betting platforms with overseas servers.
Key takeaways:
- Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security charged 21 suspects with gambling offences in a sports betting and match-fixing network allegedly led by 28-year-old Ukrainian national Vu Chi Cong.
- The network operated across Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen and other localities, using overseas online platforms.
- Investigators seized VND2bn ($76,000), 28 mobile phones and related documents after raids in August.
- Four Long An Football Club players were linked to two allegedly fixed matches in the National First Division and National Cup in 2025.
- Authorities coordinated with the Vietnam Football Federation and called for stronger monitoring to protect the integrity of domestic competitions.
TL;DR: Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security has charged 21 suspects in an illegal sports betting and match-fixing network allegedly led by a Ukrainian national residing in Ho Chi Minh City. The group is accused of manipulating results in the National First Division, National Cup and Vietnam Basketball Association competitions. Investigators seized VND2bn and other evidence after coordinated raids and a formal investigation launched in August.
Vietnam.- Vietnam’s Ministry of Public Security has charged 21 suspects linked to a sports betting ring allegedly led by a Ukrainian national. The Criminal Police Department (C02) under the Ministry of Public Security said the group had been involved in match fixing in Ho Chi Minh City, Tay Ninh, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen and several other localities.
According to investigators, the network was led by Vu Chi Cong, also known as Vu Chi Konh, a 28-year-old Ukrainian national residing in Ho Chi Minh City. The group allegedly operated through multiple online football betting platforms with servers located overseas. In addition to betting on international football competitions, the network is suspected of manipulating results in Vietnam’s National First Division, National Cup and Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA) competitions.
After launching a special investigation codenamed 096B, C02 coordinated with the Ministry of Public Security’s Technical Operations Department, the Mobile Police Command and local police forces to summon suspects and conduct emergency searches in Ho Chi Minh City, Bac Ninh and Hung Yen on August 16 and 17. Authorities formally initiated a criminal investigation on August 27.
So far, investigators have charged 21 suspects with gambling offences and seized VND2bn ($76,000), 28 mobile phones and numerous documents and other items.
Cong allegedly instructed Hoang Nhat Nam, a member of Long An Football Club’s coaching staff to approach players and arrange for them to deliberately underperform in accordance with predetermined match-fixing scenarios. Four Long An players were identified as being involved, and investigators identified two allegedly manipulated matches: Long An’s 4-1 defeat to Quy Nhon FC in the National First Division on October 3, 2025, and its 2-0 loss to Nam Dinh in the National Cup on November 23, 2025.
The investigation also revealed suspected match-fixing activities in the Vietnam Basketball Association. One of the matches under investigation was the August 15 encounter between Da Nang Dragons and Nha Trang Dolphins. Investigators determined that Cong had used billions of Vietnamese dong to finance his betting activities.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
- Who is accused of leading the Vietnam match-fixing ring? Ukrainian national Vu Chi Cong, also known as Vu Chi Konh, a 28-year-old resident of Ho Chi Minh City. He is alleged to have directed the network’s betting and match-fixing activities.
- Which competitions were allegedly targeted? Vietnam’s National First Division, National Cup and Vietnam Basketball Association competitions. Specific matches under investigation include two Long An football games in 2025 and a basketball fixture between Da Nang Dragons and Nha Trang Dolphins.
- What did police seize in the operation? Investigators seized VND2bn ($76,000), 28 mobile phones, numerous documents and other items linked to the network after searches in Ho Chi Minh City, Bac Ninh and Hung Yen.
- What action have authorities called for after the bust? They coordinated with the Vietnam Football Federation and urged stronger monitoring, prevention and disciplinary measures against misconduct to protect fairness and transparency in domestic football and basketball.
