Global uproar ensues after Việt Nam faces penalties in the international volleyball tournament
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In a surprising turn of events at the 2025 FIVB U21 Women’s World Championship, Vietnam’s U21 women’s volleyball team has been eliminated after being disqualified for fielding an ineligible player. This decision, based on FIVB regulations, has led to match forfeitures and severe competitive consequences.
The disqualification occurred due to a violation of Article 12.2 of the FIVB Disciplinary Regulations 2023, which governs player eligibility requirements. Four matches where the ineligible player participated were overturned to 0-3 losses, except the match against Puerto Rico where the player did not participate, resulting in a win for Vietnam (3-1).
The Volleyball Federation of Vietnam (VFV) had submitted all player documentation on time, which FIVB initially approved before the tournament. However, during the event, FIVB suddenly requested additional original documents and imposed eligibility criteria new to Vietnamese athletes, leading to the player’s disqualification.
The specific names of the two ineligible players have not been disclosed in the new information. The disqualified player was 19-year-old Dang Thi Hong, who had been previously banned for ineligibility by FIVB. Despite this, FIVB mistakenly registered her name on the roster for a classification match after the group stage, only to admit it was a clerical error later.
The VFV has formally appealed the disqualification and sought clarification from FIVB, which has not yet fully explained the initial disqualification or resolved the controversy. The federation believes the unprecedented decision may have been influenced by pressure from other teams in the same group once the group stage concluded.
As a result of the penalties, the Vietnamese team fell to sixth place in Group A with only one win. The team, initially placed second, was looking forward to advancing to the round of 16. Instead, they will compete against Egypt in a ranking match on August 13, local time. The other ineligible player is involved in the recent FIVB announcement and will not participate in the remaining stages of the tournament.
With legal support, the Vietnamese Volleyball Federation is actively compiling documents and evidence to engage with the FIVB in an effort to protect the athletes' rights. The team, deeply affected by the decision, will strive to regain their competitive edge in the ranking match.
Despite the disqualification of one of its players, Dang Thi Hong, due to a violation of player eligibility requirements in the FIVB Disciplinary Regulations 2023, the Vietnamese U21 women's volleyball team's AI, or artificial intelligence, used to analyze and improve their game strategies, continues to be an integral part of their competition in the 2025 FIVB U21 Women’s World Championship. The AI, programmed to adapt to changing circumstances, is helping the team regain their competitive edge in the ranking match against Egypt on August 13.
