KFA breached rules in Hong and Klinsmann managerial appointments, ministry finds

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KFA breached rules in Hong and Klinsmann managerial appointments, ministry finds

Published: 02 Oct. 2024, 12:25

PAIK JI-HWAN
paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr

Inspector General Choi Hyun-joon from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism speaks during a briefing at the Government Complex Seoul in central Seoul on Wednesday. [NEWS1]

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Wednesday that the KFA breached its rules in the appointment process of current Korean national team manager Hong Myung-bo and his predecessor, Jurgen Klinsmann, by appointing the two without the proper involvement of the National Team Committee. The ministry will decide on a punishment after completing its ongoing investigation at the end of October.

The ministry held a briefing at the Government Complex in central Seoul regarding its investigation into the KFA’s operations and whether the appointment procedures for Hong and Klinsmann were fair.

The appointment of Hong has drawn criticism from Korean football fans since it was announced on July 7, as KFA Technical Director Lee Lim-saeng allegedly bypassed the National Team Committee, which is responsible for selecting a national team manager, to appoint Hong on his own.

Korean national team manager Hong Myung-bo, left, and KFA Chairman Chung Mong-gyu during the parliamentary committee on culture, sports and tourism at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Sept. 24. [NEWS1]

The ministry launched an investigation into the KFA on July 29 regarding this matter and the KFA’s operations.

Inspector General Choi Hyun-joon said Wednesday that technical director Lee has no right to recommend manager candidates, as he is not a member of the National Team Committee. However, he was involved in the appointment process because KFA Chairman Chung Mong-gyu instructed him to take charge.

“Lee also did not receive the right to appoint a manager from National Team Committee members during an online meeting on June 30,” Choi said.

The appointment process for Klinsmann, who took the national team job in February last year and was fired in February this year, also did not follow proper procedures, according to a document released by the ministry.

Former National Team Committee Head Michael Muller wrote the manager candidate list even before the committee was formed, and Chairman Chung, who has no right to recommend managers, interviewed two candidates himself, said the ministry. The KFA then announced Klinsmann as the national team boss.

The ministry also said that KFA rules stipulate that the KFA board must approve the appointment of a manager recommended by the National Team Committee. However, the board did not approve Klinsmann's appointment, resulting in a breach of proper procedure.

Inspector General Choi indicated that the ministry will determine the extent of the punishment for the KFA after concluding its ongoing probe, which involves other aspects of KFA operations, at the end of October.

“We discovered that there was a flaw in the appointment process, but it is difficult to judge whether the contract is ineffective,” Choi said. “It is an internal process, so we will decide the extent [of the punishment] after discussions.

“We are not asking for anything specific. We discovered that Chairman Chung violated the rules. Since there are still some matters to address, we will request a punishment for him.”

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