What specific rule the Vietnamese player allegedly violated is still unknown. So far, the only statement from FIVB has been: “The Vietnam Volleyball Federation (VFV) and the player will be invited to submit their views in writing. FIVB will not comment further while the tournament is ongoing.”

FIVB has also left open the possibility of additional sanctions against VFV, noting that its Disciplinary Subcommittee will forward the case to the FIVB Disciplinary Council to assess further penalties beyond the tournament.

The suspension, which prohibits the player from competing, has sparked controversy and mixed reactions. Even VFV remains unclear why the player was suddenly penalized so harshly, resulting in Vietnam’s forfeiture (0-3) of four matches in which she participated.

VFV Secretary-General Le Tri Truong said that on August 13, the federation sent an official letter to FIVB requesting a clear explanation for the decision. “Whether the violation stems from the player or the federation, we are still discussing with FIVB. We affirm that we have complied with tournament regulations. We have asked FIVB to clarify which specific rules in the sanction notice were applied, to protect the player’s rights and VFV’s reputation,” Truong said.

He added: “VFV and the U21 team fully complied with all paperwork requirements. No objections were raised during the pre-tournament technical meeting. I have never seen such a personal eligibility check in the past. If this check had occurred at the start, and the player was deemed ineligible, the coaching staff could have adjusted the roster accordingly.”

FIVB’s statement only refers to the player being ineligible under Article 12.2 of the 2023 FIVB Disciplinary Regulations, Article 13.5.2 of the Tournament Regulations, and Article 14.4 of the Disciplinary Code. However, these provisions are general and not specific.

The lack of detail has made it difficult for VFV to prepare an appeal. Even after the championship concludes, if FIVB does not reveal the reason, VFV will have no recourse but to wait.

In the past, FIVB has taken similar actions  -  for example, suspending a group of Rwandan women’s players at the 2021 African Championship without explanation. Possible reasons for ineligibility can involve gender classification, documentation issues, or doping.

Vietnam’s U21 team has two matches left in the tournament. At 8:00 p.m. on August 15, they will face Chile for 17th-20th place, then play either for 17th-18th or 19th-20th depending on the result.

Dai Nam