Hanoi, 23 January 2026 – The Asian Football Confederation has issued an official disciplinary ruling against Pham Ly Duc after the defender was sent off during U23 Vietnam’s semi-final match against U23 China on January 20. According to the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Committee, the centre-back committed an act of violent conduct, classified as a serious offence under Article 47 of the AFC Disciplinary and Ethics Code.
The incident occurred in the second half of the semi-final when the No.14 defender made a challenge that was deemed reckless and dangerous. After consulting VAR, the referee showed Pham Ly Duc a straight red card, immediately ending his participation in the match.
As a result, the AFC has imposed a total three-match suspension on Pham Ly Duc. One match was automatically served at the moment of his dismissal. The second suspension applies to the third-place play-off between U23 Vietnam and U23 South Korea, scheduled for the evening of January 23. The remaining two matches will be carried over to future official AFC competitions, in accordance with Article 38.2 of the regulations.
Notably, Pham Ly Duc was born in 2003 and will be over the age limit for the next U23 Asian Cup. Under AFC regulations, when a player is no longer eligible to participate in the same competition level, the remaining suspension is transferred to a higher level. This means the defender could face a two-match ban at senior national team level if he is called up in upcoming AFC tournaments.
In addition to the suspension, Pham Ly Duc has been fined USD 1,000 under Article 31.2 of Circular No. 8 of the AFC U23 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2026 regulations. The fine must be paid within 30 days from the date the AFC formally notifies the relevant parties.
The punishment represents a significant setback for U23 Vietnam. Besides losing Pham Ly Duc for the third-place match, head coach Kim Sang-sik will also be without centre-back Nguyen Hieu Minh, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury and is set for a lengthy recovery period.
On a personal note, Pham Ly Duc has issued a public apology to Vietnamese fans following the semi-final, admitting that he failed to keep a cool head during a tense moment and accepting responsibility for his mistake.
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