Ly Duc receives a heavy penalty, must undergo doping tests, and appears to be in shock after the loss.

The direct red card in the semi-final match against China U23 not only eliminated Vietnam U23 but also put the 2003-born player at risk of receiving a heavy penalty from the AFC, jeopardizing his future at the national team level.

The shock on the field and the looming "sentence"

In the early hours of January 21st, an undesirable scenario unfolded. Ly Duc's foul, deemed a "foul play," resulted in a direct red card. According to Article 48 of the AFC Disciplinary Rules, if this act is deemed violent, Ly Duc faces the maximum penalty: a three-match suspension.

Notably, this punishment is a harsh "retreat." Since the Vietnam U23 team only has one more match against South Korea U23 on January 23rd, Ly Duc will not be able to serve his entire suspension in this tournament. According to Article 38 of the AFC regulations, because he is over the age limit for youth teams, his unserved suspension will be carried over directly to the senior national team level.

This means that if coach Kim Sang-sik calls up Ly Duc for upcoming major campaigns, he will still have to sit out at least two matches. A very high price to pay for a moment of lack of self-control.

White Nights in Qatar: The Pain Behind the Glamour

After that fateful moment, Ly Duc's tragedy didn't end in the locker room. He was one of two players designated by the AFC for doping tests immediately after the match. While his teammates silently left the field in the sadness of defeat, Ly Duc had to stay behind and face the solitude in the testing room. The prolonged waiting time for sample collection also weighed more heavily on the heart of the central defender from Tay Ninh than ever before.

Upon returning to the hotel, Duc stayed awake all night. He was both caring for his roommate Hieu Minh, who had suffered a ligament injury, and tormenting himself. The sound of his teammates' shoes clicking on the stone floor upon their return felt like hammer blows to the young man's psyche. He feared the feeling of being an "outsider," a culprit who had shattered his dream of reaching the finals.

An unfinished ending and a lesson for growth.

Ly Duc posted a public apology on his personal page, hoping for understanding from fans. However, perhaps the biggest regret is that he couldn't have a proper farewell match. The 2026 U23 Asian Championship is the last youth tournament of this player's career before turning 23.

The red card was not just a minor setback in terms of statistics, but also a harsh lesson in the resilience needed for top-level competition. From a silent hero in the defense, Ly Duc understood that this mistake forced him to seriously re-evaluate himself if he wanted to go further in the national team's colors.

In the upcoming match against South Korea U23, Ly Duc will have to watch his teammates from the stands. An unfinished ending, a costly lesson, but hopefully this will be the springboard for a more resilient "steel shield" to return in the future. The red card in Qatar will be an unforgettable scar, but in football, sometimes the most painful falls are the foundation for a stronger character. For Pham Ly Duc, his journey with the U23 team has ended on a low point, but the door to the national team still awaits him if he knows how to rise from this mistake. Fans may be disappointed now, but they are always ready to forgive players who strive for improvement. Hopefully, after this harsh "downpour" at the age of 23, we will see a calmer, more tenacious Ly Duc, worthy of being a reliable defensive anchor for Vietnamese football in the future.

Ly Duc apologizes for the red card, faces a storm of anger from Vietnamese fans, while Thai supporters defend him in shock. An Dương11:42:21 21/01/2026The 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup semi-final between Vietnam U23 and China U23 ended with bitter disappointment in the early hours of January 21st. The focus of attention wasn't just the 0-3 scoreline, but also the moment of carelessness by center-back Pham Ly Duc.