Thanh Hóa narrowly avoided a last-minute 0-3 defeat ruling

Thanh Hóa FC nearly faced a 0-3 forfeit against Công An Hà Nội because of the potential shortage of 16 players required by the V-League 2025/2026 rules.

The rescheduled round 10 match of the V-League 2025/2026 between Thanh Hóa FC and Công An Hà Nội FC on the evening of February 24 almost became more than just a sporting issue. The home team was at risk of a 0-3 forfeit if they failed to meet the player quota set by the league, amid severe squad shortages.

The problem arose because center-back Nguyễn Đình Huyên (jersey number 16) was suspended after accumulating 3 yellow cards. This suspension made Thanh Hóa’s squad even more fragile, especially with the transfer window still open and uncertainty surrounding captain Doãn Ngọc Tân’s future.

Before the match, Thanh Hóa had only 17 players available, including Ngọc Tân and Đình Huyên. If Đình Huyên was suspended and Ngọc Tân left due to an offer from a top club, Thanh Hóa would fall below the minimum 16 players required, facing the threat of a 0-3 loss by default.

According to the V-League 2025/2026 regulations, each club must register a minimum of 16 and a maximum of 20 players for a match; the lineup must include 11 starters (including 1 goalkeeper) and at least 5 substitutes, with one goalkeeper among them. Article 15.1 also states that failure to meet the registration requirements may result in a 0-3 forfeit or match postponement at the organizer’s discretion.

Fortunately for Thanh Hóa, coach Mai Xuân Hợp finally registered exactly 16 players, including 5 substitutes. Notably, there were 2 goalkeepers on the bench, and one was even ready to be pushed forward as a striker if necessary – a clear sign of the squad’s shortage.

The root cause of this crisis stems from FIFA’s ban on registering new players due to Thanh Hóa FC being sued by four parties over unpaid wages and financial obligations, involving 3 players and 1 coach. Until payments are settled, the club cannot add new players, nearly resulting in a 0-3 forfeit loss to Công An Hà Nội before the game even started.