KFA says Napoli-Mallorca exhibition game cannot be held on a K League matchday

Napoli's Kim Min-jae, left, and Mallorca's Lee Kang-in [REUTERS; EPA/YONHAP]

The Korea Football Association has questioned reported plans to hold two exhibition games between Serie A champions Napoli and La Liga club Mallorca in Seoul next month, saying it does not want to permit a non-league game to be played on the same day as scheduled K League matches.

Local media had reported Tuesday that the two exhibition games, as yet unconfirmed by other club, would be held in Seoul and Goyang, Gyeonggi, on June 8 and June 10. There are three K League 1 matches already scheduled on June 10.

"We haven't even received any request for approval," a league representative was quoted as saying by Yonhap. "But it'd be difficult for us to agree to the exhibition match on June 10 because we have our league matches on that day."

News initially broke last week that Napoli and Mallorca have agreed to come to Korea to play an exhibition game organized by a local company. Those reports were repeated on Tuesday, although the details still remain vague.

The two clubs are home to two of the most prominent Korean footballers in Europe: Napoli center-back Kim Min-jae and Mallorca midfielder Lee Kang-in.

Both Kim and Lee are considered serious transfer prospects this summer, with teams from across Europe — including a number of high-profile Premier League clubs — said to be lining up to try and acquire the two Korean stars.

Considering the possible timing of such moves, June exhibition games in Korea could be planned to allow both teams to visit while Lee and Kim are still on the books.

Five prominent European clubs are already confirmed to be traveling to Korea in July.

Last week, it was confirmed that Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers, Scottish Premiership side Celtic and Serie A team Roma will play a series of exhibition games in Korea in July organized by Stadium X and Untouchable Sport Group.

Wolves, home of Korean midfielder Hwang Hee-chan, will play Celtic, home of Korean forward Oh Hyeon-gyu, on July 26 at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi.

Wolves will then go on to face Jose Mourinho’s Roma on July 29, with Roma rounding off the tournament with a game against K League 1 side Incheon United on Aug. 1.

Premier League club Manchester City and La Liga’s Atletico Madrid are also headed to Korea in July to take part in this year’s Coupang Play Series, the same series that brought Tottenham Hotspur and Sevilla to Seoul last year.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]