"Hwang Ui-jo Selection? National Team Exclusion if Involved in Overseas Incident"

Criticism of Hwang Ui-jo's Participation in the World Cup Qualifiers
Sports Commentator Choi Dong-ho, SBS Radio Interview

The decision by the Korea Football Association (KFA) and head coach J?rgen Klinsmann to include soccer player Hwang Ui-jo, who is under investigation for illegal filming, in the national team has become a subject of controversy.

Earlier, on the 21st, Hwang Ui-jo was substituted in during the second match of Group C in the second round of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asian qualifiers against China.

Sports commentator Choi Dong-ho explained that even overseas, players involved in criminal cases are often excluded from national team matches. On the 23rd, on SBS Radio's 'Kim Tae-hyun's Political Show,' Choi said, "Generally, when incidents involving violence, sexual violence, or gambling occur, players are mostly excluded from the national team."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Choi cited Antony Mateus dos Santos, who plays for Manchester United, as an example. He said, "Antony, a Brazilian national team player, was involved in a sexual violence case last September. As soon as the report came out, the Brazilian Football Confederation excluded him from the September A-match national team. Manchester United also excluded him from the first team, and he was reinstated only after being cleared of charges."

Choi pointed out, "Article 14 of the KFA's Fairness Committee states that players can be disciplined with expulsion, suspension, or disqualification for violence or sexual violence, but this applies only when the charges are confirmed."

Choi added, "If the KFA actively reflects public opinion and tries to exclude Hwang Ui-jo from the national team, there is a commonly mentioned duty to maintain dignity clause. This regulation can be actively applied to impose discipline if a player's conduct as a national team member damages the team's dignity."