Hanoi, 17 February 2026 – Hanoi Police FC have been handed a 0–3 forfeit defeat by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for fielding ineligible players in the 2025/2026 AFC Champions League Two, along with a financial penalty. The Vietnamese club now faces a serious risk of elimination unless they can produce a comeback in the second leg.
The AFC recently issued strict disciplinary sanctions following Hanoi Police FC’s knockout-stage match against Tampines Rovers FC on February 11. According to the official ruling, the club used two players, Rogerio Alves Dos Santos and Stefan Ingo Mauk, who were not eligible to participate due to suspension after accumulating the maximum number of yellow cards during the competition.
The AFC concluded that Hanoi Police FC had committed a serious breach of tournament regulations concerning player eligibility and suspension management. As a result, the team was officially penalized with a 0–3 loss for the match, regardless of their actual result on the pitch. This decision significantly impacts the club’s chances of progressing further in the continental tournament.
In addition to the forfeit, Hanoi Police FC were fined $2,000 and had 50% of their participation prize money withheld, amounting to $40,000. If the prize funds had already been paid, the club is required to return the specified amount to the AFC within 30 days in accordance with competition rules.
The ruling puts coach Mano Polking and his squad under immense pressure ahead of the second leg in Singapore on February 18. To keep their quarterfinal hopes alive, Hanoi Police FC must now secure a victory by at least a three-goal margin to force extra time, or win by a larger margin to overturn the deficit and advance following the AFC’s disciplinary decision.
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