Vietnam complains about being placed in the lowest seed group at SEA Games 2019

According to the Philippines' announcement in March, Vietnam is in Group 4. The grouping is based on the teams' performance at the 2017 SEA Games. At that tournament, Vietnam, under the leadership of coach Nguyen Huu Thang, won big against Timor Leste, Cambodia and the Philippines, but tied with Indonesia and lost to Thailand, so they were eliminated.

However, after reviewing the teams' achievements, VFF said that the above arrangement was problematic. Vietnam finished the tournament with 10 points, while Myanmar (9 points) and Singapore (6 points) were placed in Group 3 at this year's Games. "We have sent a document, requesting the Vietnam Olympic Committee (VOC) to intervene with the Southeast Asian Sports Federation. Most likely, Vietnam will be re-ranked," a VFF leader confirmed toVnExpressevening of 18/4.

The VOC representative also confirmed that they had sent a document to the Southeast Asian Sports Federation, and that the issue is expected to be raised at the organization's Executive Committee meeting on April 22.

The 30th SEA Games takes place from November 30 to December 10.As hosts, the Philippines are placed in Pot 1 along with defending champions Thailand. Malaysia and Indonesia are in Pot 2, Myanmar and Singapore are in Pot 3, and Vietnam is in Pot 4 with Brunei, Cambodia, Laos and Timor Leste.

Not long after announcing the grouping, the Philippines decided to allow teams to add 2 players over 22 years old. That means players like Cong Phuong, Xuan Truong, Van Toan, Duy Manh... will have the opportunity to compete at the SEA Games again. These are players who won the Asian silver medal with U23 Vietnam in January 2018 but are now over the age limit.

The current U22 team has seven players who won the 2018 AFF Cup with the national team or reached the quarter-finals of the 2019 Asian Cup: Quang Hai, Dinh Trong, Duc Chinh, Van Hau, Bui Tien Dung (goalkeeper), Thanh Chung and Tien Linh. Coach Park Hang-seo will have the sole discretion to decide which players will be selected for the SEA Games.