Korean football legend Hong Myung-bo, Ulsan coach, recently revealed his thoughts on the biggest issue in the football world, ‘withdrawal after pardoning 100 people.’
In response to a related question at a pre-press conference for the 5th round of the ‘Hanawon Q K League 1 2023’ against Jeju held at the Jeju World Cup Stadium on the afternoon of the 2nd, coach Hong said, “This (match fixing) was an incident that completely shook Korean football. Even when I was the executive director of the association, there was a story about match-fixing that time had passed,” he said. “That incident left an indelible scar on the fans.
He added, “Our juniors have advanced to the World Cup round of 16 for the first time in 12 years. In a sense, the players have also become the center of controversy, and in that respect, I feel sorry for our juniors.”
The association shocked the football world by distributing a press release about 1 hour before the A-match friendly match between Korea and Uruguay held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8:00 pm on the 28th.
The association said, “We held a board of directors meeting in the conference room of the Seoul World Cup Stadium on the afternoon of the 28th and decided to pardon 100 football players who are being disciplined. Among the subjects, 48 players who were expelled in 2011 for match fixing in professional soccer were included.”
In addition, “We congratulated ourselves on advancing to the 10th World Cup in a row achieved last year and advancing to the round of 16 in the World Cup in Qatar, and reflected the opinions of the front-line field who proposed an amnesty for harmony and a new start in the soccer world. There is also the purpose of giving footballers another chance,” he said.
The mass amnesty caused controversy in several aspects. He faced controversy over the so-called ‘water riding’ and ‘snatching’ while announcing right before the A-match match. “Why should match fixers receive the benefits of the World Cup Round of 16?” voices came out from here and there. Questions arose about the intention of the association for a sudden decision to grant an amnesty without public opinion, and the purpose of pardoning even though the pardoned persons could not return to their current positions according to the regulations was also questioned.
As the voices arguing for the withdrawal of the amnesty gradually increased, centering on the Red Devils and other soccer fan organizations, the association immediately lowered its tail. On the afternoon of the 30th, two days later, the association held a temporary board meeting and announced that it would re-examine the disciplinary amnesty.
A day later, the decision made by the association was ‘withdrawal’. In a statement after a closed temporary board meeting that lasted about 50 minutes, the association’s president, Mong-gyu Jeong, said, “There is no other opinion that match-fixing destroys the fundamental spirit of sports. Illegal acts cannot be justified. The decision to pardon this disciplinary action was not thoughtful. “I am very sorry for the shortcomings. I will strictly accept the criticism towards the Korea Football Association. I bow my head in apology for causing concern to football fans.”
Regarding another issue, Kim Min-jae’s ‘controversy over retirement,’ coach Hong said, “Kim Min-jae plays a lot of games, so he seems to be a bit tired. I think it’s best to give Kim Min-jae a little more time.” “he said.
He then added a request, saying, “Since he is a player who has just started and has to go to a higher position than he is now, it would be good if we keep an eye on him.” 안전놀이터
On the other hand, Ulsan operated Joo Min-gyu one-top that day. Bako, Um Won-sang and Kang Yun-goo are in charge of the second line, and Lee Gyu-seong and Park Yong-woo are in charge of the midfield. Seol Young-woo, Jung Seung-hyun, Kim Young-kwon, and Kim Tae-hwan form the back four, while Cho Hyun-woo protects the goal. Kim Tae-hwan, who has been to the national team, starts from the bench. Lee Cheong-yong, Kim Min-hyeok, Ataru Rubiksson, Kim Ki-hee and Min Dong-hwan also waited on the bench. Ulsan, who is winning 4 matches, is trying to win 5 consecutive wins for the first time in 20 years since Seongnam (7 consecutive wins) in 2003.
Coach Hong said, “We need to win to continue a good season and to show our team’s performance apart from other things.” Towards Lee Chun-soo, a junior waiting for Hong’s personal YouTube channel appearance on the condition of winning 5 consecutive wins in the opening,, “Where is the time for that right now? There are many important matches until April. flatly refused.