Thanh Hoa, 17 March 2026 – On the evening of March 16, FIFA officially lifted the sanctions on Thanh Hoa FC just before the V.League 1 transfer window closed, allowing the club to strengthen its squad for the remainder of the season.
The ban on registering new players was removed after Thanh Hoa fulfilled all financial obligations related to disputes filed with FIFA by four former foreign players. With the restriction lifted in time, Thanh Hoa were able to enter the transfer market before the deadline, bringing great relief to coach Mai Xuan Hop and the club’s management.
Due to the FIFA sanction, Thanh Hoa had been forced to compete with a severely depleted squad in recent matches, despite preparing up to six new signings for the second phase of the season. In addition to four previously secured players—Nguyen Huu Dung, Le Van Hung, Le Van Hoan, and foreign recruit Amar Catic—the club recently added defender Truong Thanh Nam and another foreign player, Beli. With the ban now removed, Thanh Hoa will be able to register all six new players, including multiple foreign signings, significantly boosting their squad depth.
In Round 16, Thanh Hoa faced Nam Dinh away at Thien Truong Stadium. Despite being up against a stronger opponent, they only had 13 available players, including both starters and substitutes. Midfielder Quoc Phuong, still struggling with an ankle injury, had to come on in the 72nd minute to replace Thanh Tung.
Watching Thanh Hoa battle under such difficult circumstances raised questions about how long they could endure with such limited resources. Fortunately, after Round 16, the V.League 1 will pause for two weeks during the FIFA international break, giving the players time to recover. More importantly, the lifting of the FIFA ban has revived hope for Thanh Hoa in their fight to avoid relegation.
VSN/RPT
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