US veterans,
SOCIAL IN BRSocial evils “assail” Vietnamese footballers
| 08:03' 22/03/2008 (GMT+7) | ||
In the past three years, the media has reported many footballer-related cases. In 2004, a group of Huda Hue club players drank and brawled with each other, causing a death by drowning. At the same time, halfback Phi Hung of Song Lam Nghe An picked a quarrel in a bar and was chased by two men with knives. Last year, Hanoi ACB’s Xuan Thanh was caught red-handed taking drugs. Thanh was prosecuted for possession of drugs after that. The captain of U-19 Song Lam Nghe An team, Luu Van Hien, and another player were caught in the act while taking drugs in their room. The latest case happened just over one week ago when five players of T&T Hanoi were seized at a hotel in HCM City for taking ecstasy. However, these cases are just the tip of the iceberg. Several years ago, there was a movement among football players on northern teams in which they bought expensive headphones, but not to listen to music for entertainment, but to dance while taking ecstasy. This drug has become popular among some footballers, who share ecstasy pills after matches. Hanoi ACB’s Xuan Thanh was arrested after a match, when he took and shared ecstasy with his teammates. The most “favoured” guest stadium of Vietnamese football players is Lach Tray Stadium in Hai Phong because they can easily buy and take ecstasy there. There is a member of the Hai Phong team who is known among football players as the one who knows where to buy and take drugs in Hai Phong. Whenever guest teams come to play football in Hai Phong, guest players often invite this Hai Phong colleague to go out or to take drugs. Some say that after matches at Lach Tray Stadium, if the players on the two teams were tested for drugs, police would need a truck to carry those who tested positive. In Vinh city, the capital of Song Lam Nghe An club, football players often hire the whole bar to drink, take ecstasy, dance and then go to hotels with prostitutes. Many old players even guide young players in the use of drugs. Some young players have been fired because of declining playing skills, consequent of drugs. Previously a talented player on Song Lam Nghe An was called to the national team but he gave many reasons to return to his local team. The fact is that he is a drug addict and he wanted to go home to seek drugs. Many footballers are crazy about gambling. Several years ago, a famous footballer for Song Lam Nghe An lost two expensive motorbikes worth thousands of USD within a night for football betting. Pawing cell phones or jewelry to get money for football betting is normal for many players. A pawnshop was opened next to Vinh Stadium to serve Song Lam Nghe An players. Playing cards is also a favourite game of many footballers. (Source: VNE) |
