The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has put local clubs in a difficult spot after issuing a regulation on players’ age just a month before the national U-19 tournament takes place.

The VFF, which is the country’s football governing body, rules that only players born in 1997 and afterward are allowed to take part in the 2015 National U-19 Football Championship, set to kick off on January 8 next year.

But the new rule was only announced on December 2, just a month and six days before the tournament.

This has left many clubs scratching their heads since they have no time to train enough players of that age to join.

Before, players born in 1995 were eligible to compete at the 2014 U-19 event. So it was generally understood that the 2015 edition would accept players born in 1996, not 1997, as ruled in the new regulation.

Duong Nghiep Khoi, the VFF’s deputy general secretary who is in charge of competition affairs, admitted, “This is the first time the VFF has issued regulations to rule the exact age of players for a national tournament.

“The VFF also publicly announced the age for following tournaments till 2018.”

With the new regulation in place, four clubs will miss the U-19 tournament, including Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Quang Nam, Hai Phong and Dong Nai, according to Khoi.

Pursuant to current regulations, a football club that has a team competing in the top-tier V-League must have youth teams to take part in at least three out of the four annual national youth tournaments, including U-15, U-17, U-19 and U-21.

So, any club that cannot join the U-19 tourney can partake in the three remaining competitions, Khoi noted.

Those who fail to abide by the regulation will be fined VND200 million (US$9,600), the VFF said.

The 2015 National U-19 Football Championship includes 20 teams divided into four groups competing from January 8 till February 1, 2015.

The two top teams in each group will advance to the finals to be played from March 5 to 14 in a venue that has not been determined.

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