According to Korean media outlet News1, due to the alleged backroom dealings involved in the Korea Football Association’s (KFA) appointment of Hong Myung-bo, law enforcement agencies are currently investigating the matter. The most severe consequence could be South Korea being stripped of its qualification for the World Cup.
Recently, the appointment of Hong Myung-bo as the head coach of the South Korean national team has caused an uproar, with widespread criticism directed at the KFA. In response, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is preparing to officially intervene to investigate potential irregularities in the selection process of the national team’s head coach. A KFA official stated: “We have not yet received a notification from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. If there is an investigation in the future, we will cooperate and abide by it. If we continue to face political pressure, we may be subject to sanctions by FIFA.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on the 16th: “The issues surrounding the KFA have not been resolved and are becoming more serious. Therefore, our ministry believes that this cannot be resolved solely by the KFA. As the supervisory and management body of the KFA, we cannot stand idly by.”
However, within the KFA, there are voices opposing the interference of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, questioning whether it constitutes overreach. This official is also concerned that government intervention could undermine the independent operation of the KFA and lead to disciplinary action by FIFA, stating, “In the worst-case scenario, we might not be able to participate in the World Cup finals (as the suspension of the KFA automatically deprives us of the right to participate in international matches).”
Article 14, Paragraph 1 of the FIFA Statutes stipulates: “Member associations must operate independently, ensuring their work is free from interference by third parties.” Article 15 emphasizes that “they must be independent of any form of political interference,” and Article 19 reiterates the independence of member associations. FIFA has stated that violating this rule could result in disciplinary action, including suspension.
The KFA’s concerns are not unfounded, as similar incidents have occurred before. In 2015, the Kuwaiti government amended its laws to allow interference in the management of the country’s sports organizations, leading FIFA to suspend the Kuwaiti FA. As a result, Kuwait lost its remaining qualifying matches for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. It was only after revising the relevant laws two years later that Kuwait was able to return to the international stage.
