The Vietnam Professional Football Joint Stock Company (VPF) recently announced the registration deadline for foreign players in V-League 2024/25, directly impacting the status of Brazilian-born striker Rafaelson (Nguyen Xuan Son). As Nam Dinh FC prepares for the new season, Rafaelson’s eligibility to compete in Phase 1 will depend on the timely completion of his naturalization process.
According to the VPF’s schedule, the first match of the third round of V-League 2024/25 is set to take place on September 28, 2024. As such, the deadline for all clubs participating in the league to register or replace foreign players for Phase 1 of the competition is 3:00 PM on September 27, 2024. This date is critical for Rafaelson and Nam Dinh FC as the striker is in the process of obtaining Vietnamese citizenship, which would allow him to be registered as a domestic player rather than a foreign one.
If Rafaelson does not officially receive his Vietnamese citizenship before the deadline, Nam Dinh FC will face a dilemma. To ensure his participation in the league, the club will likely need to continue registering him as a foreign player for Phase 1 of the 2024/25 season. This is important for Nam Dinh FC, as Rafaelson is a key player who has already made significant contributions on the field. His role in the team’s attack is critical, and sidelining him due to registration issues could affect the team’s performance in the early stages of the season.
Nam Dinh FC, who have already shown their ambition by competing in the AFC Champions League Two, would prefer to register Rafaelson as a domestic player, allowing them to maximize their foreign player quota. However, if the naturalization process is not completed by September 27, Rafaelson will remain categorized as a foreign player, limiting the club’s ability to register additional foreign talent.
The potential delay in Rafaelson’s naturalization also raises concerns for Nam Dinh FC’s strategic planning. If the club cannot utilize Rafaelson in Phase 1 as a domestic player, they may be forced to reconsider their squad composition and transfer strategies. The loss of Rafaelson for Phase 1 would mean that the naturalized striker would have to “sit out” the entire first half of the V-League 2024/25 season, waiting until Phase 2 to be registered as a domestic player and eligible for selection.
As the deadline approaches, Nam Dinh FC and Rafaelson find themselves in a race against time. The club has placed significant importance on the striker’s naturalization, given his role as one of the top goal scorers in the V-League. Rafaelson’s presence in the lineup could be a game-changer for Nam Dinh FC, and both parties are undoubtedly hoping that the necessary paperwork will be completed on time to avoid any disruption to his playing status.
For now, all eyes are on September 27, when Nam Dinh FC will learn whether they can proceed with Rafaelson as a domestic player or if they will need to navigate Phase 1 with him listed as a foreign player.
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