Myanmar player speaks out over provocation by Nguyen Xuan Son.

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Myanmar national team's central defender Soe Moe Kyaw affirmed that he did not say anything offensive to Vietnam's Nguyen Xuan Son, and that everything was just a misunderstanding.

"When I and Xuan Son had an aerial challenge, he fell down even though I didn't make contact. All the Vietnamese players respected us, but Xuan Son didn't. I told him to be quiet. I also told him he wasn't Vietnamese," Soe Moe Kyaw shared on his personal page. According to the central defender, he doesn't force people to believe what others say, but he certainly always has respect for Vietnamese players and people.

Cầu thủ Myanmar lên tiếng vụ khiêu khích Nguyễn Xuân Son - 1 — Soe Moe Kyaw and Nguyen Xuan Son had many clashes on the field (Photo: Manh Quan).

Central defender Soe Moe Kyaw was tasked with closely marking Nguyen Xuan Son in the match at Viet Tri Stadium (Phu Tho) on the evening of December 21st, but he failed to complete the task. Soe Moe Kyaw was almost defeated in challenges with the Vietnamese national team striker. In the match where the Vietnamese national team won 5-0 against Myanmar, Xuan Son scored two goals, provided two assists, and displayed an aggressive, wide-ranging, and effective playing style. Regarding the incident where he was provoked by a Myanmar player, Xuan Son said: "After the match, the Myanmar player number 4 said I wasn't Vietnamese. I replied that I love this country. I've spent five years here with my family. Vietnam is my homeland. I thank the fans. I feel comfortable here and will give my best for the Vietnamese national team." Commenting on the match, the Nam Dinh FC striker said: "I am very happy. Tonight was very special for me, the players, and the fans. I will never forget the moment of support from the fans and the coaching staff. I am enjoying this. We train every day. I love the Vietnamese people very much. They support me. When I have free time, I often learn Vietnamese to connect with the people around me. Hopefully, in 2-3 years, I can chat with them." By playing in the match against Myanmar, Nguyen Xuan Son made history in Vietnamese football by becoming the first naturalized foreign player to play in an official tournament for the Vietnamese national team.