Goalkeeper Filip Nguyen will not wear the Vietnam national team’s jersey. - Photo oxii.vn

“Yesterday, I received the news that I can represent the national team of the Czech Republic. After a family meeting, I decided to take advantage of this opportunity," Nguyen posted on his Facebook page on Sunday.

Nguyen, born in 1992, is the top goalkeeper of Slovan Liberec, one of the most successful teams in the Czech Republic with three league titles and one Czech Cup win since 1993.

Last season, he played 34 games and posted nine clean sheets. In 2018, Nguyen, who was born to a Czech mother and a Vietnamese father, was named the best goalkeeper of the Czech First League.

Nguyen has repeatedly expressed his hope to play for the Vietnamese national and was once on a list of overseas Vietnamese players introduced by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) to coach Park Hang-seo. However, he has not been naturalised in Vietnam, so has not been called up.

In mid-August, Nguyen confirmed there was only one more step to complete the procedure, which was to be in Vietnam to apply for a permanent residence card.

"What a pity! I cannot wait for the VFF and the Vietnamese Government to grant citizenship, which I have been trying to apply for over the past three years," said Nguyen.

"Starting with the Czech team will stop my chances of playing for the Vietnamese team. I hope fans understand and sympathise with my decision. Thank you for always supporting me," Nguyen added.

According to FIFA regulations, if a player competes for a national team in an official tournament the player is ineligible for any other national team.

After beating Slovakia 3-1 in the UEFA Nations League last week, the Czech team discovered two of their two massage therapists had COVID-19. Therefore, all players and staff involved in the match were quarantined. The Football Association of the Czech Republic had to choose other players to prepare for the match against Scotland early tomorrow morning (Vietnamese time), including goalkeeper Nguyen.

Speaking with zingnews.vn, Nguyen Minh, Nguyen's father said he respected his son's decision.

“My son loves the Vietnamese team very much, but he can’t wait any more. He must have a residence card, but it cannot be issued when he is in the Czech Republic.

"He plays for Slovan Liberec. If he returns to Vietnam to complete the procedures, he will be quarantined for 14 days. Alongside the time spent travelling and doing procedures, his career in the Czech Republic would be ruined.”

General secretary of the VFF Le Hoai Anh expressed his regret and said the Vietnamese team will improve their competitiveness by gathering talented players who want to contribute to the country.

Previously, overseas Vietnamese players have returned to the country and contributed significantly to the team, such as midfielder Mac Hong Quan who is playing for Quang Ninh Coal and goalkeeper Dang Van Lam who plays for Muangthong United of Thailand.

For issues related to Vietnamese players living abroad, over the years, the VFF has carried out the task of assisting with professional qualification and proposing procedural support to the players to help them return to contribute to the national team. In case of not having Vietnamese nationality, the player must follow legal procedures to gain Vietnamese nationality.

At the beginning of the 2019 football season, Nguyen refused an offer to sign for HCM City FC to stay in the Czech Republic.

A representative of HCM City told zingnews.vn that: "Nguyen wants to have the opportunity to play at the top clubs in European clubs. It was the beginning of 2019 when he was playing well and had the opportunity to prove himself. He wants to have a Vietnamese nationality to play for Vietnam, but he doesn't work to play the V.League 1, he thinks it's a step back in his career, meanwhile, his father wants him to return Vietnam."  VNS

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