Nghe An principal prosecuted over football betting involvement

A high school principal in Vietnam's Nghe An province faces prosecution for his alleged involvement in a football betting ring. Nguyen Huu Hong, principal of Dinh Son Secondary School, has been suspended from his duties and party membership to facilitate an ongoing investigation.

Authorities recently dismantled two online gambling networks, arresting 13 suspects. The investigation revealed that these networks were led by Nguyen Quy Cuong, 37, from Hue City, and Nguyen Duy Sy, 47, from Nhan Hoa commune in Nghe An. The suspects utilized master betting accounts originating from abroad, which were then divided into smaller accounts to facilitate online betting.

During the period of the 2026 World Cup up to the discovery of the case, the total transaction value within these two gambling networks exceeded 6.6 billion Vietnamese dong (approximately $260,000 USD). The Nghe An Provincial Police's Criminal Police Department, in coordination with local police, executed simultaneous raids on July 15 to break up these operations.

Principal Hong is required to complete the handover of all school affairs, documents, finances, and assets to the vice-principal to support the school's upcoming merger. The case highlights the pervasive issue of illegal gambling, particularly related to major sporting events, and its impact on individuals in positions of authority.