Coach Polking admitted to a costly mistake that led to CAHN being handed a 0-3 defeat by the AFC.
The AFC's penalty turned CAHN's 4-0 victory into a 0-3 defeat due to personnel errors. Coach Polking admitted his mistakes but criticized the league's lack of transparency.
Hanoi Police Football Club (CAHN) has just received a cold shower from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) as their dominant 4-0 victory over Tampines Rovers has been officially overturned. Due to an error in managing suspensions, the police team was handed a 0-3 defeat, putting coach Mano Polking's team in an extremely difficult situation in the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League Two.
Administrative mistakes turn victory into defeat.
The shocking penalty stemmed from the participation of two foreign players, Rogerio Alves and Stefan Mauk, in the first leg. According to AFC regulations, both players had accumulated three yellow cards during the group stage and were required to serve a one-match suspension. However, CAHN's management overlooked this crucial detail, leading to a violation of the regulations regarding player eligibility.
As a result, all the players' efforts on the field were wiped out. Not only were they handed a 0-3 defeat, but CAHN also had to pay a $2,000 fine and had their financial support from the tournament organizers cut in half. This is considered one of the most unusual and regrettable incidents in Vietnamese football's history at continental competitions in recent years.
Strong reaction from coach Mano Polking
Speaking about the incident, coach Mano Polking did not shy away from responsibility but also expressed deep dissatisfaction. The Brazilian strategist admitted that this was a major lesson and a serious mistake on the part of the club for not thoroughly reviewing personnel records. "We should have done better. It's our fault, I don't deny it," Polking frankly shared.
However, the manager also pointed the finger at the AFC, arguing that the league's communication lacked the necessary transparency. According to Polking, in pre-match technical meetings, the list of eligible players still showed his personnel allowed to play, accompanied only by a small note requesting the club to take responsibility for verifying the information.
"I really don't like things like this. If you know something, please say it clearly. If, the day before the match, someone from the AFC had simply stepped forward and said 'wait a minute,' things would have been different. A match should be decided on the pitch, not off the pitch," the CAHN coach expressed his frustration.
The ultimate challenge in the second leg.
Having lost 0-3 in the first leg, CAHN faces an "impossible task". To advance to the quarter-finals, they must defeat Tampines Rovers by at least four goals in the second leg away from home.
Despite facing adversity, Coach Polking affirmed that the CAHN team will not give up. He sees this as motivation for the team to prove their true capabilities and fight for honor. The upcoming match is not only a test of their professional skills but also a challenge to the steely resolve of the police team after this administrative shock.
