General Director of Song Lam Nghe An Club speaks out after U11 disciplinary action

On September 9, the Disciplinary Board of the Vietnam Football Federation issued disciplinary decisions against the SLNA U11 team and related individuals for registering and using players of the wrong age in the national U11 football tournament. Accordingly, SLNA U11 was fined 10 million VND and banned from participating in football tournaments organized by the Vietnam Football Federation for a period of 2 years. SLNA U11 also had all titles, cups, flags, medals and bonuses of the Song Lam Nghe An team at the 2024 national U11 football tournament revoked.

After this decision was made, to better understand the viewpoint and upcoming moves of Song Lam Nghe An Club, at noon on September 10, Nghe An Newspaper reporter had a meeting with Mr. Ho Le Duc - General Director of Song Lam Nghe An Club.

During the interview, Mr. Ho Le Duc said: Yesterday (September 9), Song Lam Nghe An received a decision from the Vietnam Football Federation on disciplining the U11 Song Lam Nghe An team and related individuals. This was too surprising, because before that we had not received any notice from the Vietnam Football Federation on the content of disciplining the U11 Song Lam Nghe An team; at the same time, we had never received a notice from the competent authority concluding whether BVB's application for the 2024 National U11 tournament was correct or not.

Hopefully, the Vietnam Football Federation can organize a meeting with Song Lam Nghe An so that we can clarify this issue. Through this, SLNA will also have a basis to work with BVB, his family and the locality."

Previously, after the end of the qualifying round of the 2024 National U11 Tournament, a number of press agencies published an article with the content: Suspected age fraud at the U11 Song Lam Nghe An team. In which, it mentioned the BVB athlete who falsely declared his age by 3 years. After receiving feedback from relevant agencies, Song Lam Nghe An proactively did not use this player in the Final Round of the 2024 National U11 Tournament.

Through the exchange between Mr. Ho Le Duc and Nghe An Newspaper reporter, he said: "After receiving information about suspected age fraud in the U11 Song Lam Nghe An team, we proactively did not register BVB players to compete in the 2024 National U11 Championship Finals. At the same time, the Club also sent a report to the Department of Culture and Sports, in coordination with Nghe An Provincial Police to clarify this issue."

Regarding the disciplinary action against the U11 Song Lam Nghe An team and related individuals, Mr. Ho Le Duc affirmed:

Song Lam Nghe An did not falsify the records of players participating in the 2024 National U11 Tournament. Song Lam Nghe An did not send players to the 2024 National U11 Tournament with the wrong age limit.

Song Lam Nghe An does not have the function or expertise to investigate BVB's records. All documents, ID cards, and identification codes provided by BVB are in accordance with regulations.

If BVB's legal documents are incorrect, the agency that issued them must take responsibility. We rely on your legal documents to register the player to compete.

Therefore, the Vietnam Football Federation's decision to revoke SLNA's 2024 National U11 Championship and discipline the individuals involved is not satisfactory.

With that view, Mr. Ho Le Duc said that the club's next move is to submit a complaint to the VFF Disciplinary Board. "Today we will submit a complaint to the Vietnam Football Federation regarding the disciplinary decision against the SLNA U11 team and related individuals."

The General Director of Song Lam Nghe An Club added: "We want to know, based on what conclusion of the Police Agency to make that decision. We hope that the Vietnam Football Federation needs to clarify the organization and individual who caused the age fraud problem. If it is proven that Song Lam Nghe An did wrong, we will accept all forms of discipline."

According to regulations, the time limit for complaints is 15 days from the date of issuance of the decision. According to information, within tomorrow (September 11), Song Lam Nghe An Club will submit a complaint to the Disciplinary Board of the Vietnam Football Federation.

Nghe An Newspaper will continue to update information to readers when there are conclusions from relevant agencies.