Vietnamese national team defender pays a heavy price after controversial incident

Ho Tan Tai was sent off directly after stepping on Viet Kieu footballer Karim Tran Phi Long, forcing him to sit out the rest of V.League 2025/26 and pushing Becamex TP HCM into danger in the fight to avoid relegation.

The red card in the final minute of the loss to SLNA not only cut Ho Tan Tai's season shorter than expected but also placed Becamex TP HCM in a highly risky situation in the V.League 2025/26 relegation race. The Vietnamese international was dismissed following a dangerous tackle on overseas Vietnamese player Karim Tran Phi Long, at a time when the Thu Duc-based club is under immense pressure in the decisive phase.

The controversial incident occurred in the 89th minute at Vinh Stadium. During a fierce challenge on the right flank, Ho Tan Tai used his studs to strike Karim Tran Phi Long's thigh area. Initially, the referee showed a yellow card, but after consulting VAR, it was upgraded to a direct red. This decision almost certainly means the number 77 defender will miss the rest of the V.League, as only two rounds remain.

Losing Ho Tan Tai is a massive blow for Becamex TP HCM at the most sensitive time of the season. The defender from Binh Dinh is not only a pillar of the defense but also plays a crucial role in coach Hua Hien Vinh's tactical setup. His absence in the final two matches against CAHN and HAGL makes the team's personnel puzzle more difficult than ever.

The pressure on Becamex TP HCM is now extremely heavy. After the defeat to SLNA, the team has only 21 points, just one point above second-from-bottom Da Nang. This slender gap means the threat of having to play a relegation playoff is very real. If they end up in 13th place overall, Becamex TP HCM will have to face a do-or-die match against a First Division representative to keep their V.League spot.

Coach Hua Hien Vinh admitted that his players lost their composure after falling behind at Vinh Stadium. He stated that the coaching staff will need to tighten discipline and improve mental focus to avoid similar mistakes at critical moments. In a tense battle like this, just one moment of losing control can derail the entire season.

However, should Becamex TP HCM have to play a relegation playoff, Ho Tan Tai is likely to be available again as his suspension would have ended. In that case, the experience and composure of the Vietnamese international are expected to serve as a backbone for the Thu Duc club in the decisive match that will determine their future in next season's V.League.