What does Thanh Hoa FC need to do to avoid relegation?

(NLĐO) - The 1-3 defeat against Hanoi Police FC in the rescheduled match of Round 10 of the V-League 2025-2026 was not simply a professional loss for Thanh Hoa FC.

That was the predictable outcome for a team that took to the field with just the right number of players… according to the regulations!

Thanh Hoa Club registered exactly 16 players to compete.

Thanh Hoa FC led 1-0 after the first half, but that advantage stemmed more from their fighting spirit and mistakes from the opposition than from squad depth. When physical fitness declined, when there were no more substitutes available, and when every position was stretched to its limit, the collapse in the second half was inevitable.

Thanh Hoa Club only registered 16 players.

In this match, Thanh Hoa FC only registered 16 players, including two goalkeepers who were on the bench. The claim that Thanh Hoa "almost lost 0-3" is not an exaggeration. According to the tournament regulations, if a club does not have 16 registered players, they may be disqualified.

Thanh Hoa FC only avoided that scenario thanks to… having enough players to be included in the squad list. A team that once won the National Cup now enters each round with the most basic worry: whether they have enough players to play.

Funding is everything for Thanh Hoa FC.

The root of the problem lies not in tactics or form, but in finances. Thanh Hoa lacks players due to a top-level crisis and financial collapse, forcing them to sell a number of key players and being banned by FIFA from registering new players due to unpaid salaries for former players and coaches. This is a familiar tragedy for some Vietnamese clubs: they don't collapse because of poor play, but because of weak management.

When finances are out of control, every achievement on the field becomes fragile. Every injury becomes a personnel crisis, every yellow card marks a bottoming-out moment for the squad, and every match becomes more about "filling the roster" than "setting up a playing style."

The efforts from the rest of Thanh Hoa FC are undeniable, as they drew with Nam Dinh , won against Ho Chi Minh City Police, and only lost to Hanoi Police.

But professional football cannot be sustained in the long run through individual sacrifices. A team lacking sufficient players, internal competition, and backup plans will soon be eliminated as the fixture schedule becomes more congested and the pressure to avoid relegation intensifies.

If the FIFA ban is not lifted, Thanh Hoa FC will continue to play football in a passive position, playing each match with the worry of being short of players, and avoiding relegation will then only be a miracle.

Opportunities still exist, but not many, for Thanh Hoa Club.

The news that Thanh Hoa FC is scrambling to raise funds to pay off debts and avoid FIFA sanctions, if it materializes, is their last chance to save themselves. Once they are allowed to register new players, the question will no longer be "having 16 players" but "having enough quality to avoid relegation."

If debt repayment continues to be delayed, and if the current squad continues to struggle through each round, Thanh Hoa will be in danger. Because professional football cannot survive on spirit alone forever.

If they continue to play with only 16 players, Thanh Hoa FC will be at risk of relegation.

What does Thanh Hoa FC need to do to avoid relegation?

That is, lift the FIFA ban as soon as possible - because if new players cannot be registered, all plans to avoid relegation will remain just on paper. Add at least 5-6 players who can start - not just to meet the quota, but to have players of sufficient quality.

Stability at the top level and financial stability are crucial – you can't expect players to give their all while the club's future remains uncertain.

Next, we must embrace pragmatic football – with the current squad, prioritizing accumulating points over dreaming of beautiful football.

Most importantly, we must maintain the audience's trust. In times of crisis, the stands are a rare source of moral support; we cannot afford to lose them.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/de-tru-hang-clb-thanh-hoa-can-gi-196251101182456577.htm