Xôi Lạc TV piracy case: 74 await Vietnam’s charging decision

Police in Hưng Yên province have asked prosecutors to charge 74 people over Xôi Lạc TV, one of Vietnam’s best-known pirate football-streaming networks. The provincial police investigation agency sent its conclusion to the People’s Procuracy at the same level in early September. As of 13 October, we have not found any report that the procuracy has issued an indictment. [1], [2]

According to the police findings, the operation grew out of a “90 Phút” project started in late 2018. It ran XoilacTV and a group of linked sites, including VeboTV, 90PhutTV, ThapcamTV, BanhkhucTV and CakeoTV, alongside a second network known as Cakhia. Between 1 January 2025 and 5 February 2026, police say, the sites streamed 1,529 football matches without permission, infringing rights held by the Premier League, K+ and FPT Telecom. [1], [2]

Police say the two networks earned more than VND130 billion from gambling advertising, paid as about 2.7 million and 2.5 million USDT, and treat the full amount as illegal gains. The suspects face charges including copyright infringement, organising gambling and gambling, with one also accused of distributing obscene material. The alleged founders, Phạm Nguyễn Dũng and Nguyễn Công Định, are held jointly responsible for the advertising income. [1], [2]

TorrentFreak reports that police raided the operation in February 2026. In May, the Ministry of Public Security’s cybercrime department said the British Embassy in Hanoi had written to thank it for dismantling the network. [3], [4]

TorrentFreak also reported that prosecutors have up to 30 days to indict, return the file for further investigation, or drop the case. On that basis a decision would have fallen due in early October, although procedural periods can be extended and no decision has been made public. What happens next matters beyond Vietnam: the case was built as a criminal copyright prosecution, and the money trail runs through gambling advertising rather than subscriptions. We will update this story when the procuracy’s decision is reported. [3]

Sources

1. Dân trí. 74 bị can vụ Xôi Lạc TV bị đề nghị truy tố. Published 2026-09-05 07:20 Hanoi time. Vietnamese. Byline: Nguyễn Dương. Accessed 13 October 2026. Working English title translation: 74 suspects in the Xôi Lạc TV case recommended for prosecution (working translation).
2. VTV (from Vietnam News Agency, TTXVN). Đề nghị truy tố 74 bị can trong vụ án “Xôi Lạc TV”. Published 2026-09-04 20:57 Hanoi time. Vietnamese. Byline: TTXVN. Accessed 13 October 2026. Working English title translation: Prosecution recommended for 74 suspects in the “Xôi Lạc TV” case (working translation).
3. TorrentFreak. As U.S. Trade Pressure Mounts, Vietnam Prepares to Prosecute 74 ‘Xoi Lac’ Sports Pirates. Published 2026-09-12. English. Byline: Ernesto Van der Sar. Accessed 13 October 2026.
4. VietNamNet Global. UK Embassy thanks Vietnam after Xoi Lac TV piracy bust. Published 2026-05-19 18:36 Hanoi time. English. Byline: Not shown. Accessed 13 October 2026.