On 7/7, Bui Xuan Tien, 49, and Nguyen Thuan, 46, were indicted by the Ha Tinh Provincial Police's Security Investigation Agency. They face charges of abusing positions and power while performing official duties, under Article 356 of the Penal Code.

This marks the latest development in the investigation into legal violations within the sports sector at the Ha Tinh Sports Training and Competition Center. The center operates under the Ha Tinh Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

In January, Phan Thi Thu Huong, the center's director, and Vo Van Hoai, chief accountant, both 53, were indicted by Ha Tinh Provincial Police on the same charges.

The Ha Tinh Sports Training and Competition Center is responsible for selecting, managing, and utilizing athletes. Its mission is to provide training and coaching to achieve high performance and records for the province.

Ha Tinh Sports Training and Competition Center, where the violations occurred. *Photo: Hung Le*

According to the investigation, the suspects colluded to create fraudulent documents. They used these documents to process payments for benefits and support policies from the state budget in the fields of physical education and sports. These policies were established by Resolution 98/2022 of the Ha Tinh Provincial People's Council.

Authorities allege these actions took place over a long period, through many stages, and involved numerous individuals. The scheme caused billions of dong in damages to the state budget, impacting athletes' rights and the quality of high-performance sports in the province.

In 2022, the Ha Tinh Provincial People's Council issued a remuneration policy for high-performance sports coaches and athletes. This policy covered salaries, training support, competition expenses, and insurance. The Sports Training and Competition Center directly managed and disbursed these funds. Daily training support was set at 200,000 dong for coaches and 150,000 dong for athletes. Young national volleyball and football players received 4-25 million dong per month, with amounts varying based on their position and the tournament.

Athletes also received daily nutritional support ranging from 170,000 to 220,000 dong, with an additional maximum of 25,000 dong for high-achieving individuals. Travel and accommodation expenses, at 200,000 dong per day for away competitions, and necessary equipment were also covered. Football players received 15 million dong annually, while coaches received 10 million dong. Upon retirement from competition, individuals received a one-time allowance based on their time at the center. The policy further stipulated rewards of 3-100 million dong per medal, with an additional maximum of 30 million dong for breaking records. National-level football teams received rewards of 70-500 million dong.

Recently, several coaches and sports managers nationwide have faced criminal charges for embezzling athlete benefits. A notable case involves Dang Dao and Nguyen Ty, football coaches, who were detained by Khanh Hoa Provincial Police in late 5/2025. They are accused of appropriating over 3,2 billion dong in wages and meal allowances, and fabricating athlete training times.

Additionally, Ton Quy Hoa, a shuttlecock coach, was indicted by Nghe An Provincial Police in 4/2025. He is accused of appropriating over 200 million dong in benefits from three athletes over several years.

Duc Hung