Referee Prevents the Tallest Defender in Vietnam National Team History from Biting His Tongue

The match between Ha Tinh and HAGL in round 10 of the 2025/26 V-League witnessed a rare incident, as referee Nguyen Manh Hai promptly saved defender Quang Kiet from the risk of biting his tongue on the field.

A heart-stopping moment occurred at Ha Tinh stadium on the evening of November 4th during the game between Hong Linh Ha Tinh and Hoang Anh Gia Lai, part of round 10 in the 2025/26 V-League. In the 65th minute, HAGL's defender Dinh Quang Kiet, known as the tallest defender to have played for the Vietnam national team (1.95m), suddenly faced a serious incident while contesting an aerial duel with Viktor Le of Ha Tinh.

After jumping to head the ball, both players collided heavily, causing Quang Kiet to fall unconscious on the ground. Immediately after landing, the 2007-born defender showed signs of convulsions, with a high risk of tongue biting. Recognizing the emergency, referee Nguyen Manh Hai, who was nearby, reacted swiftly, rushing to provide first aid and secure the Ha Tinh player, preventing a dangerous accident from happening.

At the same time, HAGL players quickly signaled for medical staff to enter the field. Thanks to the referee’s rapid and precise response along with the involved parties, the dangerous situation was handled promptly. After a few minutes of care, Quang Kiet gradually regained consciousness and was helped off the sideline. He rested briefly before requesting to return to the game amid applause from the fans in Ha Tinh stadium stands.

The professional and calm actions of referee Nguyen Manh Hai received much praise. Many supporters in the stadium even stood up to show admiration for his quick wit and humanity.

For the young player Quang Kiet, this was a memorable moment that served both as a warning about injury risks in aerial challenges and as proof of the dedication of Vietnamese referees. His ability to continue playing after such a strong collision is a positive sign and highlights the importance of first aid and the presence of skilled and courageous referees on the pitch.

The incident ended safely but left a deep impression on fans, showing that football is not only a battle of tactics and fitness but also a stage for compassion and responsibility.

Returning to the match, Hong Linh Ha Tinh secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over HAGL in round 10 of the 2025/26 V-League thanks to a late penalty goal by Charles. The first half was balanced as both teams chose a cautious playing style.

In the second half, Ha Tinh pressed more aggressively, continuously threatening Trung Kien’s goal. The turning point came in the 86th minute when the referee awarded a penalty to the home team after consulting VAR. Charles calmly converted the spot-kick to seal the win. Despite HAGL’s efforts to fight back in the final minutes, they could not equalize.

This result temporarily moved Ha Tinh up to 5th place with 15 points, just 6 points behind league leaders Ninh Binh, while HAGL remained second to last with 7 points after 10 rounds.

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