FIFA bans Dong A Thanh Hoa from registering players for 3 transfer windows.
Effective from November 5, 2025, the three-transfer window ban prevents Thanh Hoa from strengthening its squad mid-season; the incident is believed to be related to Igor Silva.
FIFA has banned Dong A Thanh Hoa FC from registering new players for three consecutive transfer windows, effective from November 5, 2025. This is a temporary measure, but it is enough to prevent coach Choi Won Kwon's team from strengthening their squad during the mid-season transfer window.
Transfer ban and timeline
According to the announcement, the ban will take effect from November 2025 and last for three consecutive transfer windows. This means Thanh Hoa will have to maintain its current squad and will not be allowed to register new players until the ban is lifted.
- Start date: November 5, 2025
- Scope: Banning the registration of new players for 3 consecutive transfer windows.
- Nature: Temporary measure implemented by FIFA
- Immediate impact: Inability to strengthen the squad in the middle of the season.
A dispute with Igor Silva is believed to be the cause.
Many sources suggest that the penalty likely stems from the dispute between Thanh Hoa and Brazilian defender Igor Silva. The player, born in 2000, played for Thanh Hoa in the 2024/2025 season, appearing in 7 matches and scoring 1 goal, before leaving in January 2025. It is possible that financial obligations were not fully settled after the departure, leading Igor Silva to file a complaint with FIFA.
In similar disputes, the world's football governing body often imposes a temporary transfer ban until the obligations between the parties are definitively resolved.
Professional and personnel impact
This season, Thanh Hoa is facing a personnel crisis: a lack of depth in the squad, many key players injured or out of form, while the next generation is not yet strong enough to shoulder the burden. The ban on registering new players makes rotation and replacement even more difficult, especially in the middle of the season when reinforcements are usually needed to maintain performance.
In terms of risk management, the inability to "plug the loophole" through the transfer market forces the coaching staff to optimize available resources, tightly manage workload, and minimize the recurrence of injuries.
Internal fluctuations affect performance.
Besides professional difficulties, the team's top management has also experienced significant upheaval. Head coach Choi Won Kwon once shared that he had not yet been paid despite working for over three months. These off-field problems could negatively impact morale and stability in the locker room.
A precedent in the V-League
Last season, Hoang Anh Gia Lai FC was also banned by FIFA from registering new players for a period of time for the same reason. In a match considered a "relegation battle," HAGL and Thanh Hoa drew 1-1.
Process perspective
With the ban being temporary, the solution lies in settling all obligations between the parties involved so that FIFA can consider lifting it. Until a change is made, Thanh Hoa will have to operate with existing resources and hope for the return to form from key players.
