Fire flare burn at the Mỹ Đình Stadium during the 2020 Asian U23 Championship qualification. — Photo vietnamplus.vn

HÀ NỘI — The Việt Nam Football Federation (VFF) has been fined US$39,500 because of supporters letting off flares.

Vietnamese fans lit flares at the 2020 Asian U23 Championship qualification matches at  Mỹ Đình Stadium in Hà Nội in March.

The association was fined $13,750 for incidents during the match that saw Việt Nam beat Indonesia 1-0 and $25,750 for problems in the 4-0 win over Thailand.

The AFC said it was the fourth time the VFF let the problem happen in a continent-level match. If it was not controlled a heavier fine would be applied.

AFC already fined VFF $12,500 for the same  issue outside Việt Nam in a match between Việt Nam and South Korea at the Asian Games in 2018 in Indonesia.

Flares have been a problem in Việt Nam for a long time and the VFF has struggled to control the problem in domestic leagues. — VNS