The Korea Football Association (KFA) poured cold water on the Qatar World Cup round of 16 and the success of Korean soccer.
At 7:00 pm on the 28th, an hour before the match between Korea and Uruguay, the KFA held a board of directors meeting in the conference room of the Seoul World Cup Stadium and voted to pardon 100 soccer players who are being disciplined, under the title of ‘Execution of Amnesty for 100 Soccer Players’. was officially announced.
Those subject to pardon are former and current players, coaches, referees, and group executives who are being disciplined for various misconduct. Among those targeted are 48 players who were expelled in 2011 for match-fixing in professional football. It is the first time in 14 years since 2009 that KFA has carried out an amnesty.
Concerns and criticism poured in from fans. The reason for the pardon was explained by the KFA, “We celebrated the 90th anniversary of its founding, advanced to the World Cup 10 times in a row and advanced to the round of 16 in the World Cup in Qatar. We celebrated the brilliant achievements and contemplated the great integration of the football world at the time of a new start.”
First of all, it is difficult to understand the relationship between the performance of the 2022 Qatar World Cup in the round of 16 and the amnesty of players who were expelled for match-fixing. What is the relationship between match-fixing in pro soccer and the national team’s good performance in the World Cup?
Match-fixing is a serious and criminal act that shakes the foundation of sports. KFA said, “After long consideration, it was determined that they had already been punished by the state and had undergone a lot of reflection while undergoing discipline for a long time. It is virtually difficult for them to return as players and coaches in the professional soccer field. However, they have the opportunity to contribute to the development of Korean soccer. Please understand the decision to give it once again,” he appealed.
However, the word ‘please understand’ is also inconsistent. Although it is a serious issue that needs to be explained to fans with a clear reason, it was announced as a ‘snatch’ just an hour before kickoff. Usually, the starting lineup is announced one hour before the start of the game. After that, articles about the game, such as the score, the result of the first half, and the match result, are pouring in. It is the timing to be buried naturally. 스포츠토토
The good performance of the World Cup in Qatar led to the box office success of the K-League. The two friendly games of the national team were also sold out, proving once again the ‘soccer craze’.