VietNamNet Bridge – The Saigon Xuan Thanh Cement FC has to change its name to be allowed to participate in the AFC Cup.




In accordance with the Asia Football Confederation’s rules (AFC), the football teams that are named after the sponsors, such as SHB, Hoang Anh, Dong Tam, Becamex, T & T and Xuan Thanh are accepted as participants in regional football tournaments. But the AFC ban teams from adding the name of products to the team name.

Not knowing about this rule, Saigon Xuan Thanh club (the name of the last season) has registered for the AFC Cup 2013 with the name Saigon Xuan Thanh Cement.

At the two-day meeting with the clubs participating in the AFC Cup 2013 in Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) on January 15-16, the AFC warned the Saigon Xuan Thanh Cement FC of being rejected from the tournament, if the club registers with this name.

Under the pressure of the AFC, Saigon Xuan Thanh Cement has decided to use the old name Saigon Xuan Thanh club in the 2013 season.

"This is an extremely difficult decision of the team’s managers. The team would like to sincerely apologize to the fans because in recent years there have been many changes around the club's name," managing director Tran Tien Dai said.

In the first round of the AFC Cup 2013, Saigon Xuan Thanh is in Group H along with Selangor (Malaysia), Tampines Rovers (Singapore) and East Bengal (India). On March 6, Sai Gon Xuan Thanh will have the first game against Tampines Rovers in Singapore.

In the case of Saigon Xuan Thanh, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has been criticized by the public opinion for having no assistance or consultancy for local football clubs.

Compiled by Nam Nguyen