Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club confirmed to file a lawsuit against Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF) this morning (February 7). The People’s Court of Nam Tu Liem District (Hanoi) receives the lawsuit petition and related documents and evidences.
HAGL CEO Nguyen Tan Anh said: “The club only wants the barriers to the development of professional football to be removed, but has no other aspirations.”
VPF also prepares to go to court and settle disputes with HAGL – which is also a shareholder of the company.
HAGL sues VPF.
HAGL’s conflict with VPF stems from the fact that the mountain town team has a new sponsor in the 2023 season. This unit deals in the same industry as the exclusive category that sponsors V.League 2023 – energy drinks. Therefore, VPF banned HAGL from promoting energy drinks of team sponsors. HAGL and VPF worked together and found a way to allow the mountain football team to exploit without violating the tournament rules.
In addition to filing a lawsuit against the court, HAGL also sent official letters to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the General Department of Sports and Sports and the Vietnam Football Federation to petition for the exclusive sponsorship regulations of the Company. Vietnam Professional Football (VPF).
The mountain town team proposed these agencies to consider and give opinions for VPF to amend the V-League 2023 charter – the document was issued on January 17 after reaching agreement with the clubs (including HAGL). and approved by VFF.
HAGL believes that the exclusive regulation of VPF violates the prohibition specified in Clause 2, Article 8 of the Competition Law. From the point of view of the mountain town team, from the perspective of ensuring the right to freedom of business in accordance with the law, VPF’s monopoly on and sponsorship is not appropriate.
HAGL believes that “VPF’s unreasonable prohibition” is unfair, contrary to the provisions of law, international trade practices and sponsorship practices in international sports activities.