After 3 days of sending recommendations to Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF) and Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), some clubs have unexpectedly withdrawn their proposal to increase foreign player quotas in V.League.
Instead, these teams agreed to return to the plan that had been included in the previous draft tournament regulations. Specifically, each team is allowed to register a maximum of 4 foreign players but is only allowed to use 3 people at the same time in a match in the V.League and the National Cup in the 2025-2026 season.
In fact, not every team in the V.League has enough financial potential to select and maintain 4 quality foreign players. If all four foreign players are allowed on the pitch, the gap in squads between teams will be even greater, leading to an imbalance.
The increase in the number of foreign players also means narrowing the opportunities to play for domestic players, especially young players. Meanwhile, the development orientation of Vietnamese football during this period is to promote young human resources, creating opportunities to play for potential players to seek human resources for the national team.
Previously, speaking with Lao Dong, Mr. Cao Hoang Duc - Executive Director of Dong A Thanh Hoa Club - said: "Thanh Hoa Club has prepared to sign contracts with 4 quality foreign players, with the task of carrying the team's expertise. Therefore, playing with 3 or 4 foreign players on the field is not really a big deal for us. Depending on the tournament regulations, coaches must make their own professional decisions.
I also do not think that adding a foreign player will make the tournament more attractive or domestic players will lose their opportunities. Competition is also important. However, if the teams cannot find quality foreign players, the risk is much greater".