“What’s wrong with the Korean Football Association (KFA)?”
Soccer fans have a lot to say about the Korean Football Association these days. Even when they seem to be doing a good job, they get question marks about whether they are doing a good job as a governing body for soccer. Even acquaintances who are not interested in soccer ask, “What’s wrong with the KFA, and why is it involved in everything?”
온라인바카라Just last December, the federation’s blood, sweat, and tears were rewarded with a place in the round of 16 at the World Cup in Qatar. Just this year, the U-20 national team made it to the quarterfinals of the U-20 World Cup, despite having to deal with a change of venue from Indonesia to Argentina.
Unlike the national team, the administration of the soccer federation continues to regress.
Conversely, the administration’s behavior has been ridiculous. In March, they were criticized for attempting a “surprise amnesty” for match-fixing ahead of a match against Uruguay. The reason given was to celebrate the team’s World Cup round of 16 victory. The board of directors was criticized for playing favorites, and there was a rush to resign.
Chairman Chung Mong-kyu responded to public opinion by reshuffling the board, promising to make changes. He also showed his willingness to respond to public opinion by appointing vice chairmen with public recognition and journalists.
Instead of abolishing the executive vice president position, which was seen as the exclusive domain of footballers and a grievance channel, the organization introduced a full-time vice president system and appointed Kim Jung-bae, a former second vice minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The appointment of Kim, a former bureaucrat, was expected to bring about a reorganization and a better football association.
However, looking at Jürgen Klinsmann’s appearance, it is difficult to see where the ‘mediator’ and ‘facilitator’ are. Kim is in charge of the day-to-day running of the soccer federation, so it’s hard to see how he can control Klinsmann.
The most visible position on the board is the National Strength and Conditioning Committee. It is headed by German Michael Muller, but it is unclear what he is doing. Klinsmann hasn’t stopped appearing on panels for US sports outlet ESPN. He wouldn’t be able to do this so freely if his contract didn’t require him to keep his private life private.
It’s not often that you see the world’s most famous coaches sitting on media panels and commenting. It’s understandable if they don’t have a job. Son’s mentor, Mauricio Pochettino, was a pundit for the BBC during last year’s World Cup. That was only for the duration of the tournament. It would be outrageous for a current national team manager to forget about his position and comment to his heart’s content. It’s even more bizarre that none of the previous Korean national team managers have ever appeared on a panel for a foreign media outlet during their tenure.
Of course, as Klinsmann said, it could be a misunderstanding due to differences in work styles. It’s not just the soccer world, either – companies and organizations in general are using video conferencing to share what they need when they need to. There’s nothing wrong with using your time efficiently and working flexibly.
However, it’s no secret that a national team coach doesn’t just manage the A team. They have a role in influencing the tactics and strategies of the lower age groups, and even all the teams in the country. In addition to players traveling overseas to Europe and other countries with a certain level of skill, it is important to give the message that domestic players can be selected at any time.
Is Korea still the pride of Asian soccer, and what is the role of the Korean Football Association and its president, Chung Mong-kyu, who apologizes but takes no responsibility?
Chairman Chung Mong-kyu was heavily criticized for suggesting amnesty for match-fixers at the board meeting in March.
Chairman Chung Mong-kyu has had a difficult time speaking out against the government, including the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, following the failure of the 2023 Asian Cup bid.
Who is under Klinsmann’s control, if anyone?
It would be bizarre to think that a person with such a huge task would have the mentality of “I’ll stay in Korea even if I’m told to leave after the A match in September, and I’ll prepare for the A match in October, the second round of qualifiers for North and Central America 2026 in November, and then go to the Asian Cup in Qatar next January”. Even Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), whose injury has made it difficult for him to join the squad, has been denied a spot on the U-24 team.
Member A, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “We haven’t had a meeting since Klinsmann was appointed. I don’t know if the voices on the ground are being heard,” he said. Muller’s statement that he understands the uniqueness of the Asian Games, and that he can adapt in just 10 minutes for the age-group teams because they play their best even when it is obvious that they are being abused, shows a lack of understanding of Asian soccer.
In fact, Mr. Muller may be a man of few words. In the FIFA Constitution, Chapter 7 Sub-Committees – Article 52, Paragraph 1, which explains the purpose of the National Strength Committee, it says: “The National Strength Committee is established for the purpose of advising and consulting on the management of the men’s and women’s national teams and the national teams at the U-18 age group and above.
Müller’s role is to ‘advise’ and ‘consult’. Even with the title of chairman, this limits his voice in relation to “1. Appointment, dismissal and reappointment of coaches, 2. Recommendations for player selection, 3. Assistance, evaluation and suggestions on team operations, including participation in competitions and training, 4. Dispatch to evaluate the Technical Study Group (TSG), and 5. Other relevant tasks assigned by the Board of Directors”.
For example, he can’t directly tell Klinsmann, “I want you to stop doing the ESPN panel.” Compare that to the way his predecessor, Paulo Bento, was able to provide clear direction when he was in trouble, with former National Strength and Conditioning Committee chairman Kim Pang Gon (now head coach of the Malaysian national soccer team). Of course, Kim was unable to directly intervene with Vento after his role was changed to “advisory” following a July 13, 2021, rule change, but he said what he could before leaving for Malaysia in January 2022.
If Klinsmann and Seung-in Mueller can’t speak out of the goodness of their hearts, who can? Should it be Hwang Bo-kwan, the head of the technical department that runs the national team, or one of the vice presidents of football, including Jang Oe-ryong, Choi Young-il, and Ha Seok-joo? Jang joined the team during the last reshuffle, and Choi returned after resigning, so his options are limited. Vice Chairman Ha has enough on his plate as the head coach of Aju University’s soccer team. In short, there is no one in charge of controlling Cleansman.
The same is true for other issues. In the process of selecting the national team for the Hangzhou Asian Games, he failed to detect that he had created an operating rule stipulating that players who had been sentenced to a fine of more than 5 million won for offenses such as drunk driving were ineligible for selection unless three years had passed since the sentence was finalized. It was a funny situation that Hwang didn’t realize until the evening of the roster announcement press conference. The matter is still ongoing. The KFA said, “It’s still difficult to know the situation. We have to wait and see.”
The national team’s popularity is hot. It’s not surprising that the national team is so popular. However, the Korean Football Association has no explanation as to why there is a problem. This is why Kim Pang-geon, the former head of the national team’s supervisory committee, is summoned to answer the question in detail and seek understanding. Reporter Byun Hye-mi
The national team is popular. It’s no surprise that the national team draws large crowds at A matches. However, when something goes wrong, the KFA has no explanation as to why. This is why Kim Pang-gon, a former head coach of the national team, is summoned whenever there is a problem. Reporter Byun Hye-mi
The national team is popular. It’s no surprise that the national team draws large crowds at A matches. However, when something goes wrong, the KFA has no explanation as to why. This is why Kim Pang-gon, a former head coach of the national team, is summoned whenever there is a problem. Reporter Byun Hye-mi
The national team is popular. It’s no surprise that the national team draws large crowds at A matches. However, when something goes wrong, the KFA has no explanation as to why. This is why Kim Pang-gon, a former head coach of the national team, is summoned whenever there is a problem. Byun Hye-mi Reporter
Lee Kang-in unable to organize traffic, silent to government in jamboree disruption, clubs ‘still unable to communicate’
The government’s failure to organize the World Scout Jamboree has left clubs watching from the sidelines even as the Jeonju World Cup Stadium and Seoul World Cup Stadium were pelted with grenades for holding K-pop concerts. I understand that it’s a government event and subject to the influence of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, one of the main ministries, but the FA Cup’s authority was undermined when clubs were given unilateral communications and had to eat mustard while crying about rescheduling matches.
The KFA changed the schedule of the final from a home-and-home to a single-leg tie. The clubs that made it to the final four, including Jeonbuk Hyundai and Incheon United and Jeju United and Portland Steelers, were ignored. No mediation was offered.
From the quarterfinals onward, the soccer federation exercises marketing rights. Surprisingly, this was followed by an explanation that the FA Cup title sponsor, Hana Bank, had been approached. The idea that a major sponsor would understand a reduction in exposure during the finals of two of the country’s premier soccer festivals that showcase the best of the best, professional and amateur, doesn’t fit with the latest sports marketing trends.
The fact that Hana Financial Group has been a sponsor of the Korean Football Association for a long time would have been enough to make any other company angry. On the contrary, it exposed the backward management of the tournament by failing to run the final with the economic logic of pursuing profits. If the FA Cup, with its 300 million won prize money, didn’t come with a qualification for the Asian Football Confederation Champions League (ACL), I doubt any club would play it. The fact that it’s not even close to the 500 million won prize money of the K League makes it the top domestic competition.
I’d rather take the $12 million prize for winning the ACEL (Champions League Elite) in the revamped 2024-25 season and the $6 million prize for runner-up.