Korean non-profit sues KFA chief over Klinsmann appointment

Korea Football Association Chairman Chung Mong-gyu, center, watches the Korean national team's training at Al Egla Training Facility in Doha, Qata on Feb. 4. [NEWS1]

Korean non-profit organization Public Welfare Committee filed a complaint with police in Seoul on Tuesday, accusing Korea Football Association (KFA) Chairman Chung Mong-gyu of unilaterally appointing Jurgen Klinsmann as Korean national team manager.

According to News1, the not-for-profit accused Chung of making the decision to award Klinsmann the position on his own, which they claim interfered with the proper operation of the KFA and therefore constituted the crime of interference with business under Article 314 of Korea’s Criminal Act.

The committee’s complaint comes after Klinsmann failed to win the AFC Asian Cup where Korea exited after a semifinal loss to Jordan on Feb. 6.

In the complaint, Chung is accused of personally deciding the cost of firing Klinsmann early as stipulated in his contract and setting his wage. Klinsmann is paid from KFA funds.

Klinsmann’s annual wage is said to be around 290 million won ($2.1 million), while the cost of sacking him early is rumored to be around 700 million won.

While the KFA can avoid the cost of sacking him early if Klinsmann resigns, the manager said after the loss to Jordan on Feb. 6 that he has no intention of doing so.

Since taking the helm in February last year, Klinsmann has faced criticism for his perceived lack of tactical awareness.

During the Asian Cup run, his side failed to dominate any country in the tournament, drawing 3-3 to the much lower-ranked Malaysia in the group stage and only beating Saudi Arabia in the round of 16 through a last-minute equalizer and a penalty shootout, before exiting at the hands of Jordan.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]