During a fitness test on 3/8 at the Hanoi Athletics Palace in preparation for the 2025-2026 season, Thinh collapsed during the 4km run. On-site medical personnel immediately administered first aid and performed CPR before transferring him to Bach Mai Hospital.

Representatives from the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), VPF, and the Referees Committee were present at the hospital to monitor and coordinate his treatment. Despite the doctors' and medical team's best efforts, Thinh passed away at 2 a.m. on 4/8.

His body was brought back to Dong Nai by his family and authorities that same night for funeral arrangements.

Referee Tran Dinh Thinh officiating a V-League 2024-2025 match at Go Dau Stadium, TP HCM. Photo: Duc Dong.

Thinh's sudden passing shocked the Vietnamese referee community. Yesterday, they gathered at the hospital to bid him a final farewell. "Today is the last time we'll be together. There won't be another time! Everyone is waiting for you to come home," referee Tran Dinh Hoc wrote on his personal page. Hoc, Thinh's nephew, often accompanied him at matches. He remained at the hospital since the incident.

From the US, former referee Vu Nguyen Vu, a former Vietnam Silver Whistle winner, expressed his shock upon hearing the news. "I worked alongside Thinh for many years, sharing rooms and officiating matches together. At first glance, everyone thought he was strict. But after getting to know him, you'd see he was kind, eager to learn, and resolute. Despite the distance, we frequently contacted each other, discussing work and family matters. I deeply regret having to say goodbye to him this way," Vu told VnExpress, his voice choked with emotion.

Former referee Vu Nguyen Vu (left) and the late Tran Dinh Thinh officiating a V-League match. Photo: Dong Huyen.

Thinh, born in 1982 in Dong Nai, was highly regarded for his expertise and rarely made serious errors. He won the 2024 Bronze Whistle and the 2025 Silver Whistle awards. He was a FIFA-certified referee in 2019 and 2020. Besides refereeing, he was a physical education teacher at a secondary school in his hometown.

According to VFF General Secretary Nguyen Van Phu, Thinh's passing is a great loss for Vietnamese football, especially for the national referee team. "Thinh was professional and dedicated to his work, beloved by all his colleagues. His departure leaves a huge void and unspeakable pain. The VFF will coordinate with VPF to organize a respectful and meaningful funeral," Phu said.

Tran Anh Tu, Chairman of the Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF), was also shocked by the sudden death of the referee. "Thinh was a highly experienced and respected referee, recognized for his contributions and honored with prestigious V-League awards. His dedication and professionalism have always been acknowledged. This is a huge loss for the Vietnamese referee team," he said.

The last images of referee Tran Dinh Thinh during the fitness test on the morning of 3/8. Photo: VFF.

Northern Vietnam is experiencing an extreme heatwave due to the influence of a hot low-pressure area from the west. Temperatures have reached 35 to 37 degrees Celsius, with some areas exceeding 38 degrees, and humidity at 80%. Therefore, the fitness test was conducted at 5 a.m. yesterday to ensure the referees were in optimal condition. Four ambulances and four medical teams were on standby.

The annual referee training and fitness test are part of VFF and VPF's pre-season preparations. Referees must pass both the fitness test and professional exams according to FIFA regulations to be eligible to officiate in the upcoming season.

A young referee revealed, "Thinh prepared meticulously for the test. He rested well and ate normally. So, everyone was surprised and worried when the incident occurred." This individual also mentioned that following Thinh's collapse, some referees withdrew from the fitness test and retired.

Out of the 62 referees and assistant referees who participated in today's fitness test, 55 passed, a rate of 88.7%. Passing the fitness test is a prerequisite for referees to be considered for assignments in Vietnam's professional football leagues.

Before Thinh, Vietnamese football experienced a similar tragedy. In 2018, during the final fitness test of a referee training course for the First Division, assistant referee Duong Ngoc Tan suffered a stroke on the field. He was rushed to Saint Paul Hospital in Hanoi for emergency resuscitation and then transferred to Bach Mai Hospital for treatment. However, he passed away five days later at the age of 37.

Duc Dong