Brazilian defender complains to football federation about Saigon FC training ban

In his complaint on Tuesday, the Brazilian defender said: "I have been playing most games this season, but suddenly a few weeks ago I was told that the club wanted to terminate my contract. I was asked to negotiate compensation that is fair for every party involved, but no agreement was reached.

"Then on May 31, when I was getting ready for training, I was asked to leave the training center and was told that I cannot train with the team any more. I have recorded this incident on video and I can send it on request.

"When I went to training a day later, I was again blocked from entering the training center. All players were allowed inside except me. I have also recorded this on video.

"In my contract, it said that I have the right to train with the team and I would like to inform you that Saigon FC have breached the contract."

Santos also said all the others in the squad have been getting Covid-19 vaccination, but not him, Tuoi Tre newspaper reported.

On Wednesday Saigon FC chairman Tran Hoa Binh said Thiago is now allowed to train normally again. He had been "quarantined" from the team for the past few days because he did not have a negative Covid test result and the club wanted to strictly follow the social distancing order, Binh claimed, as reported by Thanh Nien.

However, when Santos provided his Covid-19 test result, it showed he tested negative from May 29, but he still got banned from training two days later.

Before joining Saigon, Santos played for Quang Nam FC. This season the 30-year-old has not performed well and the club has recently signed another defender, Senegalese Papé Diakité.

Saigon are currently 13th in the V. League table with 13 points, just three more than bottom team Song Lam Nghe An.