European coach threatens to quit V.League after receiving unfavorable decision

Velizar Popov continues to make headlines as he openly denounces the management after the tie with Công an TP.HCM, going as far as declaring his desire to leave V.League due to perceived persistent unfairness against his side.

Coach Velizar Popov once again drew attention with his angry statements after Thể Công Viettel let a victory slip away against Công an TP.HCM in round 25 of the 2025/26 V.League season.

At Gò Đậu Stadium on the evening of May 31, the military team was very close to three points after Nhâm Mạnh Dũng scored the opener in the first half. However, in the 85th minute, Nguyễn Tiến Linh capitalized on an opportunity inside the box to equalize 1-1 for the home side.

This result meant Thể Công Viettel could not secure the runner-up position with only one round remaining. Immediately after the final whistle, Coach Popov could not hide his disappointment and continued to direct harsh criticism at the match officiating as well as the football environment he is working in.

The Bulgarian tactician believed that his team had frequently faced disadvantages throughout the season. "Every point that Thể Công has earned has been very hard. I feel my team constantly encounters obstacles. There are things that everyone can see but cannot change," he shared.

The 1976-born coach even declared that he was too tired of what was happening. "I feel everything is terrible. Maybe one day I will leave and not want to come back. I don't want to continue being a part of this," Popov said in disappointment.

Notably, the match at Gò Đậu Stadium was officiated by FIFA referee Izzul Fikri Kamaruzaman from Malaysia to ensure objectivity. Nevertheless, that did not dampen the frustration of the coach, who has repeatedly publicly reacted to refereeing decisions in V.League.

In recent seasons, Popov has been known as one of the most charismatic and emotional coaches in Vietnamese football. He has repeatedly received yellow cards, disciplinary actions, and fines from the organizers due to his fierce reactions on the sidelines.

Although controversial, it cannot be denied that Popov always shows passion and determination to protect his team. However, his latest statements after the draw with Công an TP.HCM are likely to continue to become a focus of attention in Vietnamese football in the coming days.