Xuan Son, Dinh Bac, Van Vi cleared of yellow cards ahead of Vietnam-Thailand clash in ASEAN Cup final

Under Article 96 (Cautions and Disciplinary Measures) of the ASEAN Cup 2026 Tournament Regulations, any player or team official who enters the final stage with only a single yellow card received during the semifinals will have that booking wiped clean.

The disciplinary reset is a massive boost for the Golden Star Warriors, as all three players represent core pillars of the starting line-up.

The 29-year-old naturalized striker Nguyen Xuan Son has established himself as the focal point of the attack, netting five tournament goals in total, including a dominant three-goal tally across the two semifinal legs against Malaysia.

On the flanks, 22-year-old rising star Nguyen Dinh Bac has proved just as lethal, racking up five goals with his blistering pace and sharp direct play. 

Meanwhile, 28-year-old left-back Nguyen Van Vi has anchored the left corridor with tireless two-way work, chipping in with a goal against Indonesia in the group stage while offering vital defensive stability.

Vietnam collected three bookings across the hard-fought, two-legged semifinal tie against Malaysia. 

Dinh Bac was cautioned in the 32nd minute of the first leg, while Xuan Son and Van Vi picked up yellow cards in the 65th and 72nd minutes during the rematch at My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi on Wednesday evening. 

All three infractions stemmed from aggressive challenges made to protect the team's advantage.

With their slates wiped clean, both players and coaching staff gain crucial tactical breathing room. 

If any of the trio picks up a single yellow card in the opening leg, it will not combine with earlier infractions to trigger an automatic suspension for the return fixture.

However, the rule is hardly a license for reckless challenges. 

A direct red card or two bookings in the first leg will still result in an automatic suspension for the second game.

The card amnesty applies equally to Thailand, who secured their place in the final after overcoming Singapore with a 4–3 aggregate victory in their semifinal tie. 

The War Elephants also had three key figures, Sarach Yooyen, Picha Autra, and Yotsakorn Burapha, cleared of single bookings picked up during the two matches.

The first leg of the ASEAN Cup final kicks off at 8:00 am on August 22 at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, with the decisive second leg scheduled for 8:00 pm on August 26 at My Dinh Stadium.