Hanoi FC have lost their right to take part in AFC tournaments in 2020. Photo Strong Vietnam

The Vietnamese team made history as the first Southeast Asian team to reach the AFC Cup Inter-final last month.

However, they will be absent from the events next year as their U15 team did not compete in the national championship, and continental governing body rules that participants must have youth teams competing from U13 to U21 each season.

As a result, V.League runners-up HCM City will replace them.

It is the second time a Vietnamese club has been banned for the same reason. In 2017, champions Quang Nam FC were kicked out after they missed the U17 tournament. VNS