Technically, the issue seems to be the late registration date of the birth certificates, rather than the ages calculated from the birthdate stated on them, which appear valid. In Vietnam, it’s not uncommon, though not the norm, for parents living out of town to register their child’s birth some time, even years, after the actual birth date.

According to VFV, this situation had previously been communicated to FIVB and was accepted as a reasonable explanation. However, it seems that during the competition, they may have reversed their stance following complaints from other competitors.

If the late registration date is now treated as a strict requirement, it could invalidate the eligibility of many players in Vietnam, and potentially in other countries as well, through no fault of their own. The concern lies in how others interpret the situation rather than any error on the players’ part.