Alleged KFA officials caught on camera pulling down protest banners

Football

Published: 24 Mar. 2024, 16:24 Updated: 24 Mar. 2024, 17:59

Alleged KFA officials caught on camera pulling down protest banners

Korean national team supporters wave banners saying ″Chung Mong-gyu out″ during a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Thailand at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on Thursday. [NEWS1]

The Korea Football Association has been accused of attempting to aggressively stamp out criticism of its chairman after a video went viral over the weekend appearing to show officials ripping banners calling for Chung Mong-gyu to be ousted out of the hands of fans during Thursday's World Cup qualifier against Thailand.

A video shared on X, formerly Twitter, on Friday appears to show security guards or KFA officials snatching banners that read "Chung Mong-gyu out" out of the hands of protesting fans in the stands at the game.

According to some reports, the officials refused to respond when asked on what authority they were taking the banners. A video shared on YouTube appears to show a large number of black-suited officials seizing the signs and then immediately running out of the stands with the fans in pursuit.

The KFA could not be reached for comment as of press time Sunday, but an official told the JoongAng Ilbo, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, on Friday that the banners were removed by security guards because they were larger than permitted according to FIFA rules.

The protest came amid ongoing anger aimed at Chung, who has been repeatedly accused of abuse of power and last month a Korean nonprofit filed a criminal complaint against him for unilaterally hiring now-axed manager Jurgen Klinsmann.

Klinsmann was sacked after a one-year stint during which he received criticism for a perceived lack of tactical awareness and failing to win the AFC Asian Cup last month despite a star-studded squad that included Europe-based footballers like Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur and Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain.

The cost of sacking him, which is at the center of the criminal complaint against Chung, is rumored to be around 7 billion won ($5.2 million).

Korean football fans then demanded Chung step down after Klinsmann’s sacking, with multiple fans leaving comments on the KFA Instagram posts saying, “Chung Mong-gyu out.”

Chung, who was at Thursday’s game, has yet to comment on the ongoing protests.

Korea Football Association Chairman Chung Mong-gyu watches a 2026 World Cup qualifer between Korea and Thailand at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on Thursday. [NEWS1]

This is not the first time Chung has faced criticism. The KFA chair previously faced a backlash in 2023 for a series of questionable calls, including pardoning 100 people banned from Korean football for various infractions such as match fixing — a decision he later reversed.

Chung has been an active figure in the football industry, having held multiple roles including owning K League teams Ulsan Hyundai, now called Ulsan HD, and Jeonbuk Hyundai Dinos, now called Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the 1990s. He was also the K League president from 2011 to 2013.

Fans also lay the blame for the Korean national football team's woes at Chung's feet.

The team, currently led by interim manager Hwang Sun-hong, struggled on Thursday against Thailand, drawing 1-1, despite a huge different in FIFA rank — Korea at No. 22 and Thailand at No. 101.

That draw was Korea’s first draw in the second round of the World Cup qualifiers after two wins in Group C.

Korea will play the away leg against Thailand on Tuesday, as each group in the second round of qualifiers plays with a home-and-away round robin system.

Korea still sit at the top of the group despite Thursday’s draw. The second round will wrap up in June, with group winners and runners-up reaching the third round.

The national team is expected to go through some changes after Tuesday’s away match, as the KFA said last month that a new permanent manager should take the helm by May and has not postponed its decision yet.

Hwang, who is also U-23 manager, will then return to the U-23 squad and prepare for the U-23 Asian Cup that begins next month, which serve as a Paris Olympic qualifier.

The U-23 squad will have to finish in the top three at the Asian Cup to reach the Games.

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