Under police questioning, a referee confirmed to have accepted bribes to fix games blamed a coach in Vietnams top football league, landing a manager in police custody, authorities said.

Vu Tien Thanh, manager and assistant coach of the V-Leagues East Asia Bank Pomina Steel (EAB-PS) team, was detained for allegedly offering a bribe of VND20 million, almost US$1,300, to referee Luong Trung Viet.

Referee Viet was arrested August 25 after years of accepting bribes, transferring bribe money to referees, and connecting corrupt whistleblowers to football clubs to throw pivotal league matches.

Under questioning, the referee blew the whistle on the EAB-PS coach, who was arrested Tuesday morning at the HCMC Football Federation Headquarters under witness of the federation chairman Tran Van Tao.

It is unjust to detain me for bribery, it would hurt me and my family, said Vu Tien Thanh to on-duty policemen.

After inspecting the books, things seem in order and transparent, explained Dang Phuoc Dua, EAB-PS club chairman to clear up charges the alleged sum of bribe money came from the club or its sponsor.

Last week in a meeting with officials of the EAB-PS club and sponsor East Asia Bank, Vu Tien Thanh Denied all allegations against him and wrote an assurance letter vowing to avoid bribery for match fixing, added the club chairman.

HCMC football federation chairman Tran Van Tao feared that the coach was in contact with illegal betting gangs, leading to his involvement in the current scandal.

The best solution is to eliminate the football club if he is found guilty, said East Asia Bank general director, Tran Phuong Binh, fearing for his banks prestige as a sponsor.

The VND20 million bribe in question was allegedly passed by assistant coach Vu Tien Thanh to ref Luong Trung Viet, who said he pocketed VND4.5 million, and passed VND6.6 million to three other unnamed referees, with the remaining VND9 million going to other people, revealed police this week.

Last week, four referees turned themselves in to investigation police in HCMC returning a total of VND11 million they claimed was from Luong Trung Viet 3 months ago, police said.

Police are encouraging others involved to turn themselves in to authorities to have their state sentences reduced before they are uncovered.

Vietnams Criminal Code states citizens who offer bribes from VND10 million ($630) to VND50 million ($3,150) could be imprisoned for from 6 to 13 years.

(Reported by L.Phuong, Q.Tuyen, Q.Huy, T.Hai, V.Chien Translated by M.Phat)