World Cup 2026: Football Betting Leads to Prosecution of a Commune Chairman in Thanh Hoa

The Criminal Police Department of Thanh Hoa Provincial Police stated on July 20 that they had initiated legal proceedings and placed Mr. Trinh Duc Hung, Deputy Party Secretary and Chairman of the Thieu Toan Commune People's Committee, in temporary custody. This action is part of an investigation into gambling and organizing gambling activities through football betting during the 2026 World Cup.

Commune Chairman Prosecuted for Football Betting in 2026 World Cup Season

Speaking with reporters, Mr. Do Ngoc Luan, Secretary of the Party Committee of Thieu Toan Commune, stated that the Commune Party Committee promptly reported the incident to the Thanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee. While Mr. Hung is in detention, the operations of the Commune People's Committee have been entrusted to a Vice Chairman of the Commune People's Committee. As for organizational and disciplinary accountability, the relevant authorities will assess and make decisions in accordance with the rules.

Earlier, between July 11 and 18, the Criminal Police Department of Thanh Hoa Provincial Police, working alongside specialized units, conducted a series of operations that dismantled four major cases involving gambling and the organization of gambling through football betting during the 2026 World Cup.

On July 14 alone, authorities uncovered a football betting network and summoned four individuals in Thieu Hoa Commune for investigation into gambling and organizing gambling. Preliminary findings indicate that Nguyen Thien Binh was the mastermind behind the operation. Binh had bought "Agent" accounts from football betting websites and subsequently issued "Member" accounts to bettors to facilitate the gambling activities.

The investigation determined that Nguyen Thien Binh granted Trinh Duc Hung an account with a daily betting limit of $300 (converted at a rate of 100,000 VND per USD) and granted Tran Cong Hau an account with a daily limit of $2,000 for betting on 2026 World Cup matches.

In relation to the four aforementioned cases, the Thanh Hoa Provincial Police Investigation Agency has so far initiated prosecution and placed three defendants in temporary detention, while also ordering criminal detention for 21 other individuals involved. Photo: Thanh Hoa Provincial Police.

According to available information, Mr. Trinh Duc Hung has served in local positions for many years, previously holding roles such as Chairman of the Commune People's Committee and Secretary of the Commune Party Committee in Thieu Hoa District. Prior to his appointment as Chairman of the Thieu Toan Commune People's Committee, he was the Head of the Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Thieu Hoa District.