Hot: V-League reduces the number of relegated teams, HAGL and Thanh Hoa Club... 'breathe a sigh of relief'

Instead of 2 direct relegation slots as the regulations at the beginning of the tournament, this season's V-League returns to the formula of 1 relegation slot plus 1 play-off slot for the 2 bottom teams.

V-League reduces relegation rate

On September 16, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) approved a proposal to change the promotion/relegation slots in Vietnam's professional football leagues. Specifically, this season's V-League will have 1 relegation slot for the bottom team, and 1 play-off slot for the second-to-last team.

This is a big change compared to the beginning of the season, when the tournament regulations stipulated that the two teams at the bottom and second to last place would be relegated directly. Accordingly, the first division no longer has two direct promotion slots, but only one direct promotion slot, plus one play-off slot (playing against the team at the bottom of the V-League).

V-League reduces number of direct relegation slots from 2 to 1

PHOTO: MINH TU

Thus, V-League reduces the relegation rate from 2 to 1.5, while the first division also reduces the promotion rate from 2 to 1.5. This can help reduce the pressure on teams that are stuck in the relegation race like HAGL and Thanh Hoa . Because obviously, "avoiding" only 14th place is still easier than having to escape both the bottom and second-to-last positions.

Over the past 10 years, there have been 5 play-off matches held between the second-to-last team in the V-League and the runner-up in the first division. In turn, Long An (2016), Nam Dinh (2018), Thanh Hoa (2019), Ha Tinh (2023 - 2024) and Da Nang (2024 - 2025) all won the play-off to stay in the V-League.

Over the past 20 years, V-League teams have dominated the play-off matches, winning 9/12 matches (75%). Only 3 V-League teams have lost to the first division in the survival matches, namely Hai Phong (lost to Hue on penalties in 2006), Binh Dinh (lost to Dong Thap 0-1) and An Giang (lost to Can Tho).

Last season, Da Nang Club won 2-0 against Truong Tuoi Dong Nai to successfully stay in the league.

The relegation race in V-League has cooled down somewhat, but the promotion race in the first division will be "hot". Besides Truong Tuoi Dong Nai showing clear ambition, other opponents such as Ho Chi Minh City Club, Bac Ninh, Quang Ninh or Phu Tho can all take advantage of the opportunity to "raise the flag".

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nong-v-league-giam-so-doi-xuong-hang-hagl-va-clb-thanh-hoa-tho-phao-185250916112356278.htm