Tran Anh Tu, Vice President of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Professional Football (VPF) company, has unexpectedly submitted his resignation from both key positions.

According to sources from VietNamNet, Tran Anh Tu has officially requested to step down from his roles in VFF and VPF to focus on his personal business ventures.

Despite this, he will continue to serve as President of the Ho Chi Minh City Football Federation and remains committed to investing in Vietnamese futsal and several women’s football teams that his company has long supported.

His resignation comes as a surprise to many, given his deep dedication to Vietnamese football. Tu has played a crucial role in the development of futsal in Vietnam, helping the national team secure two FIFA Futsal World Cup appearances.

At the 2024 ASEAN Cup, he served as the Head of Delegation, working alongside head coach Kim Sang Sik to lead Vietnam to its third AFF Championship title.

Currently, neither VFF nor VPF has released an official statement regarding his resignation.

Previously, at the 9th VFF Congress, Tran Anh Tu was elected Vice President in charge of professional affairs with unanimous approval, as he was the sole candidate for the position.

During his three consecutive terms as Chairman of VPF’s Board of Directors, Tu played a pivotal role in increasing the company’s revenue, providing greater financial support for clubs, and improving the infrastructure and overall quality of the V-League.

One of his notable achievements was the introduction of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system in the 2023/24 season, marking a significant milestone for Vietnamese football.

Dai Nam