Vietnam players charged with match-fixing - report

HANOI, Sep 9 (Reuters) Vietnamese police have charged eight players, including seven internationals, in connection with match-fixing at last year's south-east Asian Games, the Thanh Nien daily reported today.

The paper quoted a source saying the players would face trial for their part in rigging a game against Myanmar in Manila last December.

Internationals Bat Hieu, Van Truong, Quoc Vuong, Van Quyen, Hai Lam, Phuoc Vinh and Quoc Anh, and former player Truong Tan Hai will be charged with betting and organised gambling, the daily said.

Gambling is illegal in Vietnam, although widespread police corruption allows underground betting rings to flourish.

The players were allegedly paid 500 million dong (31,000 dollar) each to fix the game, and are believed to have used their money to place bets on their team beating Myanmar 1-0.

Police said last week they were looking to arrest the alleged ringleader, Ly Quoc Ky, who has gone on the run.

Vietnamese soccer has been tainted by countless match-fixing scandals, which officials say happen because of players' low incomes.

REUTERS PDS VV1119