HCM CITY — The Vietnam Basketball Association (VBA) has pledged to take tough disciplinary action within its authority against anyone found guilty of involvement in match-fixing, following the arrest of several players in connection with a sports betting investigation.

In a statement issued on November 11, the VBA said it had promptly reported the case to the Vietnam Basketball Federation (VBF) after the Ministry of Public Security’s Investigation Police Agency initiated criminal proceedings and ordered the temporary detention of several athletes who competed in the 2026 VBA season.

The arrests are part of a criminal investigation into gambling through the manipulation of sports match results.

The VBA strongly condemned all acts that violate the law, particularly those involving sports, saying they ran counter to the spirit of fair play, undermined fans’ trust and disregarded the efforts of clubs, organisers and people working to develop basketball in Việt Nam.

As the organiser of the professional league, the VBA pledged to work closely with investigative authorities whenever required.

It said it would not comment on details of the case or the identities of those involved out of respect for legal proceedings.

The association will continue to monitor developments and coordinate with the VBF in handling the case. Any individuals found to have committed violations will face the highest applicable disciplinary sanctions under the league’s regulations and relevant laws, it said.

The VBA also reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining fairness, transparency and integrity across the competition, saying its management and professional systems, particularly during the 2026 season, had been operated under strict regulations.

It said it would further tighten internal rules and disciplinary procedures while strengthening monitoring measures and adopting international warning systems to detect and prevent potential misconduct in future seasons.

The association added that it would continue improving its control mechanisms and raising awareness among players and basketball stakeholders to prevent negative practices and safeguard the integrity of the league. — VNS