AFC imposes penalties on the Vietnam futsal team

The Vietnam futsal team was penalized by the AFC after the 2026 Asian Championship, involving breaches of collective and personal discipline, ending the competition with considerable disappointment and important lessons learned.

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) recently issued disciplinary decisions regarding the Vietnam futsal team at the 2026 Asian Futsal Championship held in Indonesia. These penalties stemmed from both collective and individual violations during the course of the tournament.

According to the AFC announcement, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) was fined 2,000 USD (approximately 50 million VND) for violating Article 52 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code, related to property damage. The incident occurred after an intense match where the Vietnam futsal team defeated Kuwait 5-4 on January 27. Some members of the coaching staff and team officials caused damage in the locker room arranged by the organizers.

The AFC requires the fine to be paid within 30 days from the date the disciplinary ruling takes effect. Although the penalty is not very large, this decision serves as a clear warning emphasizing the responsibility of the coaching staff and support team to adhere to behavioral standards at continental competitions.

Furthermore, the AFC imposed a separate penalty on player Duong Ngoc Linh. He was suspended for one match and fined 1,000 USD after receiving two yellow cards in the 2-0 victory over Lebanon on January 29, resulting in an indirect red card. The suspension was enforced immediately in the next game, when Vietnam lost 0-1 to Thailand on January 31.

At the 2026 Asian Futsal Championship, the Vietnam futsal team fought hard but could not advance further. The team was eliminated in the quarterfinals after a narrow 2-3 defeat to host Indonesia. The AFC sanctions closed Vietnam futsal’s tournament journey with considerable regret, while also highlighting the need to improve discipline and image in future international competitions.