Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club files lawsuit against VPF

Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club confirmed that it filed a lawsuit against Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF) this morning (February 7). The People's Court of Nam Tu Liem District (Hanoi) received the lawsuit and related documents and evidence.

HAGL Club CEO Nguyen Tan Anh said: "The club only hopes that barriers to the development of professional football need to be removed, and has no other wishes."

VPF is also preparing to go to court and resolve disputes with HAGL - which is also a shareholder of the company.

HAGL sues VPF

The conflict between HAGL and VPF stems from the fact that the mountain town team has a new sponsor for the 2023 season. This unit operates in the same industry as the exclusive sponsor of V.League 2023 - energy drinks. Therefore, VPF prohibits HAGL from promoting the energy drinks of the team's sponsor. HAGL and VPF worked together and found a solution that allows the mountain town team to exploit advertising without violating the tournament's regulations.

In addition to filing a lawsuit in court, HAGL also sent a dispatch to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the General Department of Sports and Physical Training and the Vietnam Football Federation to request a proposal on the exclusive sponsorship regulations of the Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF).

The mountain town football team requested these agencies to review and give opinions so that VPF can amend the V-League 2023 regulations - a document issued on January 17 after reaching an agreement with the clubs (including HAGL) and being approved by VFF.

HAGL believes that VPF's monopoly regulations violate the prohibitions stipulated in Clause 2, Article 8 of the Competition Law. From the perspective of the mountain town football team, in terms of ensuring the right to freedom of business according to the law, VPF's monopoly on advertising and sponsorship is inappropriate.

HAGL believes that "VPF's unreasonable ban" is unfair, contrary to the provisions of law, international trade practices and sponsorship practices in international sports activities.

According to VTC News