Card-happy Korean referee assigned to Vietnam–Malaysia clash
VOV.VN - The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has appointed Korean referee Chae Sang Hyeop to officiate the rematch between Vietnam and Malaysia in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification on March 31.
He will be assisted by fellow Koreans Yoon Jae Yyeol and Bang Gi Yeol, while Torphong Somsing of Thailand will serve as the fourth official.
Chae Sang Hyeop is no stranger to Vietnamese football fans, having previously officiated matches in V.League1, including the clash between Hanoi Police FC and Hanoi FC in the 2024–25 season. In the same campaign, he also refereed Hanoi Police FC’s 6–1 win over Tampines Rovers FC in the ASEAN Club Championship.
Known for his strict officiating style, Chae has overseen seven matches in the 2025–26 season across competitions including the K League and regional tournaments, issuing 22 yellow cards, two red cards and awarding three penalties.
The appointment of the Korean referee could offer a psychological boost for Vietnam. However, the side coached by Kim Sang-sik will still need thorough preparation to overcome Malaysia.
The upcoming clash is largely procedural, as Vietnam have already secured qualification for the Asian Cup finals after topping Group F with 15 points, six ahead of second-placed Malaysia.
The second-leg match between Vietnam and Malaysia is scheduled to kick off at 7 p.m. on March 31 at Thien Truong Stadium.
In last year’s first-leg match, Malaysia, fielding several naturalised players, defeated Vietnam 4-0. However, following sanctions by FIFA over player eligibility violations, the AFC overturned the result and awarded Vietnam a 3-0 win.
Kuwaiti referee to officiate Vietnam-U23 South Korea Asian Cup third-place match
VOV.VN - The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has announced the referee team for the third-place playoff at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 between U23 Vietnam and U23 South Korea.
