[Exclusive] Football Association Forms Task Force Centered on Fair Trade Commission Since Early This Year to Discuss Pardons

Seo Chang-hee, Fair Trade Commission Chairman, Leads Task Force Formation
Various Rumors Surround Background of Pardon Promotion
Player Targeted for Pardon Also Calls It "Absurd"

The Korea Football Association (KFA), which faced criticism and withdrew after pardoning 100 football figures disciplined for match-fixing incidents, has been pushing for the pardons since early this year, according to our investigation.

Chung Mong-gyu, President of the Korea Football Association, is leaving the press conference after announcing a statement following an extraordinary board meeting held on the afternoon of the 31st at the Football Hall in Sinmunno, Jongno-gu, Seoul, to reconsider the pardon of football personnel who are under disciplinary action for reasons including involvement in match-fixing. [Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 1st, compiling stories from football insiders and our investigation, the association formed a pardon promotion team led by Seo Chang-hee, chairman of the Fairness Committee (lawyer), in early January to discuss pardons for football figures. The team was mainly composed of members from the Fairness Committee. It is reported that the team was formed suddenly after opinions emerged among the association’s board and some senior executives that a review was necessary. The association internally agreed to consider pardons by referencing the remarkable achievement of the national team advancing to the round of 16 in the Qatar World Cup held in November-December last year, and the government’s special pardon of 1,373 people, including former President Lee Myung-bak, on December 28, 2023, which was presented as a "decision for national unity."

However, the formation of the promotion team and the pardon review were kept confidential externally, with a focus on security. A KFA official told us, "If we had informed the outside, there would have been the advantage of hearing various opinions, but on the other hand, it was judged that it could have made the smooth promotion of the pardons difficult." This indicates a strong awareness of opposing public opinion.

Therefore, the association announced the pardons abruptly. On the 28th of last month, one hour before the highly anticipated friendly match between our national team and Uruguay began, the pardons of 100 football figures were announced. Among those pardoned were 48 players who were permanently banned after participating in the 2011 professional football match-fixing scandal. However, the pardons were withdrawn just three days later. On the 31st of last month, the association held an emergency board meeting at the Football Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and announced the complete cancellation of the disciplinary pardons.

The pardons seem to have ended as a mere incident. However, questions remain within the football community about the background of the pardon push. Some speculate that the pardons were forcibly promoted to appoint player A, a ringleader of the match-fixing, as an executive of a city or provincial football federation. Others claim that the family of player B has long supported the association behind the scenes in various ways, and the pardons were a form of 'reward pardon.'

Player C, who was permanently banned after participating in the 2011 match-fixing scandal, said in a phone interview with us, "I was baffled from the moment I first heard about the pardons. I wonder if it was really necessary to go this far, and it was honestly surprising that the association suddenly brought up the issue and then withdrew it. There was no prior contact. I acknowledge that I was disciplined because I was at fault, but this decision by the association is regrettable."