Absent From Defending The National Team Against Vietnam In Hanoi, Sandy Walsh Returns To Belgium

Belgian League player, Sandy Walsh, while defending the Indonesian national team. (Instagram @andywalsh)

JAKARTA - Sandy Walsh is known to have chosen to return to Belgium to defend his home club, KV Mechelen. This was done after he was confirmed to be absent from defending the Indonesian national team in the second match against Vietnam.

The national team will undergo an away match to Hanoi on March 26. This agenda is a continuation of the Asian zone 2026 World Cup qualifiers. However, in the day after tomorrow's match, Walsh was confirmed to be absent due to card accumulation sanctions.

With his unboyed status against Vietnam in the second leg, Sandy Walsh decided to give permission to Shin Tae-yong coach to return to Belgium to rejoin his club.

Through an Instagram story upload, Sandy Walsh uploaded his transiting trip at Dubai Airport. It is known that this is a trip to Belgium.

Previously, Sandy Walsh appeared in the second half in the Indonesia vs Vietnam match at the GBK Stadium, Thursday, March 21. In that match, Sandy Walsh appeared quite impressive and took part in bringing Indonesia to a 1-0 win against Vietnam.

However, in the next match at Vietnam headquarters, Sandy Walsh certainly could not play due to card accumulation. Walsh was first rewarded with a yellow card in Indonesia's match against Brunei and was again punished when Indonesia won 1-0 over Vietnam in SUGBK.

"Sandy Walsh got an accumulation of yellow cards," said Shin Tae-ying in a video uploaded by PSSI quoted on Sunday, March 24.

Sandy Walsh's position is likely to be replaced by Asnawi Mangkualam who has returned to the squad after serving a yellow card accumulation sentence.

Apart from Sandy Walsh, the Indonesian national team must also lose Marc Klok and Nadeo Argawinata who suffered injuries. Instead, Shin Tae-yong called Ernando Ari Sutaryadi, Rachmat Irianto, and Muhammad Ferarri.