Vietnamese referee sparks huge controversy in Malaysia's 3-0 victory

FIFA referee Le Vu Linh drew divergent opinions when refereeing the game in which Malaysia U19 beat Singapore U19.

The match between Malaysia U19 and Singapore U19 at the 2026 Southeast Asian U19 Championship concluded with a 3-0 win for the team in yellow, but the decisions made by FIFA referee Le Vu Linh became the center of controversy. Besides on-field collisions, Abid Safaraz's goal that made it 2-0 also raised questions, as the striker appeared to be in an offside position before scoring. Nevertheless, the referee team validated the goal.

The biggest controversy occurred in the 60th minute, when Malaysia U19 were leading 2-0. After a foul by a Singapore player, referee Le Vu Linh blew the whistle against the team in red. Immediately afterward, Malaysia's Aqasha retaliated by stomping on the opponent's chest with his foot.

The incident happened right near Singapore U19's technical area, prompting strong reactions from the team's coaching staff. Players from both sides quickly rushed in to argue, creating a tense atmosphere on the field. Referees and coaching staff had to intervene to stabilize the situation.

Surprisingly, after consulting and handling the situation, the Vietnamese referee only issued a verbal warning to Aqasha. The number 4 defender of Malaysia U19 did not receive any card. This decision immediately sparked mixed opinions, as the Malaysian player's action was considered a clear act of retaliation.

Soon after the above incident, Malaysia U19 used a free kick to score their third goal, sealing a 3-0 victory. Singapore U19's frustration seemed to increase in the remaining time, as they repeatedly made aggressive fouls. At the end of the match, Singapore's number 14 player made a dangerous tackle with his studs and received a yellow card from referee Le Vu Linh.

Referee Le Vu Linh is also among the rare FIFA-accredited referees from Vietnam. However, even during his time officiating in the V-League, this referee had made several significant mistakes and was once suspended by the VFF from officiating in certain rounds.