The Vietnam Football Federation on Friday decided to send the U19 team instead of the U23 squad to the Pre-SEA Games football competition in Vientiane early next month after Thailand announced a similar decision.

“The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) has decided to send its U19 instead of the U23 team to the Pre-SEA Games tournament. That is none of our business.

“The organizers of the event have agreed. That is none of our business, either. However, we need certain changes in our plans.”

Tuan said VFF received a letter from the Pre-SEA Games competition on Thursday saying that FAT had said it would send its U19 squad to the tourney.

Tuan said VFF’s national team management and coach Henrique Calisto have also agreed to send Vietnam’s U19 squad to the event.

Tuan said the friendly tournament would be a good opportunity to prepare the U19 players for the qualifying round of the U19 Asian Football Confederation 2010 to take place in Thailand in November.

Meanwhile, manager of Thailand’s U19 team Wisit Korworrakul confirmed that Thailand would send its U19 players to the friendly tournament.

Wisit said the U23 players can’t participate in the Pre-SEA Games event because the Thai Premier League was still going on.

Responding to the incident, Calisto said, “It was an unprofessional decision.” The 57-year-old Portuguese tactician also said there might be some changes to the U23 squad’s training and competition plans.

Reported by Thanh Luong – Viet Phuong