Before V.League 2023 took place, on January 15, HAGL Club announced about having a new sponsor. Three days later, VPF sent an official request to HAGL not to use the sponsor’s image in tournament-related activities to ensure the interests of the main sponsor V.League.
HAGL has a new sponsor since 2022.
The official letter has the paragraph: “Twithin the framework of the National Championship Night Wolf 2023, with specific regulations on sponsorship according to the Professional Football Regulations, the Tournament Charter and the announcement of the VPF company: Exclusive line of the Main Sponsor of Vietnam Night Wolf 2023 national championship is Energy Drink.
The main sponsor of the tournament is entitled to exclusive promotion in propaganda activities, press conferences, billboards and other commercial activities related to the prize.
Therefore, VPF company recommends that HAGL Club not use energy drinks images within the scope of activities related to the scope of the National Night Wolf 2023 championship such as: Placing boards on the field, logos on the field. jerseys, side activities at the official training and competition days at Pleiku Stadium, the identity of the tournament…“.
Right after that, HAGL sent a reply. The letter reads: “Since the LS V.League 2021 season, energy drink brand Redbull has become a Platinum sponsor of HAGL for two years 2021 and 2022. A year later, VPF Company just announced Night Wolf energy drink as the home. sponsor of the V.League 2022 tournament.
To prepare for the new season of Night Wolf V.League 2023, HAGL negotiated and signed a contract with Carabao Group (Thailand) on December 5, 2022 and announced Carabao energy drink as the sponsor. main sponsor for the 2023 – 2024 season.
Pleiku stadium stands are fitted with seats with the name of the new sponsor.
As a club that has been operating in the professional football field for more than 20 years, we always comply with the rules and regulations of the tournament, including the exploitation of sponsorship and brands. HAGL is the pioneer club in exploiting energy drink brand, then VPF Company just announced the energy drink brand for the tournament.
The exploitation of the energy drink industry to sponsor HAGL has taken place continuously, without interruption from 2021 up to now. Therefore, VPF Company cannot ban us from exploiting the energy drink brand to sponsor the team for the new season. This decision is completely unreasonable and does not create conditions for HAGL Club to develop”.
In the media, Duc announced, HAGL will quit V.League 2023 if VPF bans new sponsors.