Salavan United Football Club, based in Salavan in southern Laos, has terminated the contract of Lao national team winger Soukphachan Lueanthala amid match-fixing allegations, citing his “unexcused absences” from training.
The club announced the decision in a notice dated 2 November. It said Soukphachan, 24, skipped training from 24 August to 30 September without valid justification or approved leave, violating club discipline rules. The termination takes effect immediately, and all rights, benefits and obligations between the club and the player end with the notice.
The club based its decision on his employment contract, its discipline and training regulations, and attendance records and coaching staff reports.
Reported Arrest Over Match-Fixing
The termination comes after The Guardian reported on 8 October that Lao police had arrested Soukphachan in connection with match-fixing allegations. The British newspaper said that police accused him of helping organise the alleged operation for a betting syndicate.
Since then, no further reporting has followed, and the Lao Football Federation (LFF), police and Salavan United have made no public statement on the arrest.
The allegations also follow a leaked LFF letter to the Ministry of Public Security, dated 7 August. In it, the Federation said it suspected players may have taken bribes or been involved in gambling tied to match-fixing at the 2026 ASEAN Hyundai Cup, and it asked police to investigate the players and anyone else involved.
The letter names no specific players, and police have not confirmed the claims.
The suspicions followed heavy defeats of the national football team in mid 2026. Laos lost all four matches it played between 25 July and 4 August: 5-0 to Thailand, 4-0 to Malaysia, 4-1 to the Philippines and 7-2 to Myanmar.
According to the letter, these results raised suspicions among federation officials. Salavan United is one of the leading teams in the Lao League 1, the country’s top division.
Still, the notice does not say whether the club’s decision relates to Soukphachan’s reported arrest or the LFF investigation, and it gives no reason for his absence. Soukphachan has not commented publicly.
