Association "Scheduled to Announce on the Morning of the 6th"
The Korea Football Association is considering a request for a re-examination regarding the audit results from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which demanded severe disciplinary actions beyond suspension for high-ranking officials including Chairman Chung Mong-gyu.
On the 5th, Yonhap News reported that the Football Association responded cautiously, stating, "We are reviewing a request for re-examination concerning the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's audit results announcement," and "The association's position on the Ministry's announcement will be released by the morning of the 6th."
Earlier, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the final results of a special audit on the Football Association that day. It concluded that severe disciplinary actions (including dismissal and expulsion) such as suspension or higher were necessary for Chairman Chung, Senior Vice Chairman Kim Jeong-bae, who was involved in the appointment process of national team coach Hong Myung-bo, and Technical Director Lee Im-saeng.
The Ministry confirmed a total of 27 cases of illegal and improper business handling during the audit of the Football Association and notified them to take disciplinary action, corrective measures, and caution, as well as to prepare reasonable improvement plans.
The Ministry stated, "We demanded disciplinary actions of suspension or higher for Chairman Chung Mong-gyu and related persons including the Senior Vice Chairman and Technical Director, holding them responsible for improperly operating the national team coach appointment process in violation of the national football team operation regulations."
It added, "Regarding the appointment of national team coach Hong Myung-bo, where procedural defects were confirmed, the Football Association was notified to devise measures to remedy these procedural defects in the appointment process, including having the Strengthening Committee for the National Team recommend coach candidates again and appointing them through the board of directors."
The Ministry reiterated the issue of coach Hong Myung-bo’s appointment, instructing the association to consider ways to correct the defects, including reconstituting the National Team Strengthening Committee to undertake the reappointment process.
On the 24th, Chung Mong-gyu, President of the Korea Football Association, who attended the comprehensive audit of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held at the National Assembly, is seated. In front is Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. [Photo by Yonhap News]
However, it stated, "Whether to maintain or dismiss the contract with Coach Hong Myung-bo is a matter for the association to decide autonomously," and emphasized, "This audit is not intended to infringe upon the autonomy of the Football Association. The Ministry also respects the statutes of the F?d?ration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the autonomy of the Football Association."
It further stressed, "We do not believe this audit announcement conflicts with FIFA policies. FIFA understands this audit as part of achieving good governance."
Following growing fairness controversies over the appointment of Coach Hong Myung-bo as the national team head coach in July, the Ministry began auditing the Football Association from the end of that month.
After reviewing the appointment procedures of former coach J?rgen Klinsmann and Coach Hong Myung-bo, the Ministry announced in an interim briefing on October 2 that the Football Association failed to comply with internal regulations multiple times during the coach appointment process.
At the time of the Ministry’s interim audit results announcement, the Football Association issued a statement of about 8,800 characters strongly protesting that the audit content was logically inappropriate and reflected a perspective that did not understand practical administration.
However, regarding the Ministry’s final results announcement, the association only released a brief statement saying it was "considering a request for re-examination."
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