"Cannot Apply Regulations as He Was Not Registered as a Coach at the Time"
The suspension imposed on Son Ungjeong, Director of SON Soccer Academy and father of football player Son Heungmin, for allegedly abusing a youth player has been nullified.
According to Yonhap News on May 28, the Gangwon Provincial Sports Council held a meeting of its Sports Fairness Committee on this day to reexamine the disciplinary actions related to allegations that coaches at SON Soccer Academy physically or emotionally abused youth players last year. The committee decided to revoke the three-month suspension previously imposed on Director Son.
The council stated, "The disciplinary action against Director Son cannot be applied under the relevant regulations, as the conduct in question occurred before he was registered as a coach with the Korea Football Association." According to the sports community, Director Son registered as a coach in April last year, but the alleged youth abuse incident took place in March of the same year, prior to his registration.
Previously, in April, the Gangwon Football Association imposed disciplinary actions on Director Son and two other SON Soccer Academy coaches for alleged abuse of youth players. At that time, both Director Son and Coach A received three-month suspensions, as the association determined that the verbal abuse was an impulsive act. Son Heungyun, the head coach and elder brother of Son Heungmin, was also suspended for six months, as his violent and injurious actions were deemed impulsive and there were special circumstances to consider.
These penalties are the lowest level of disciplinary action for violent conduct by coaches, according to the regulations of the Sports Fairness Committee. Director Son and others appealed the disciplinary measures, while the victimized child's side also requested a retrial, stating, "It is difficult to consider the abuse as impulsive, as the abusive acts were repeated multiple times."
On this day, the council rejected the retrial requests for Head Coach Son Heungyun and Coach A, confirming their suspensions of six months and three months, respectively. Until their suspensions are completed, both individuals are barred from participating in any competitions organized by the council or related organizations.
Regarding the retrial results, Ryu Jaeyul, the attorney representing the victimized child, stated, "This means that for years, the academy was operated and youth players were coached by unregistered coaches, who even participated in competitions as coaches. This is difficult to understand from a common-sense perspective."
In response, Myungnyun Law Firm, representing Director Son Ungjeong, issued a press release stating, "Director Son Ungjeong holds a Field A-level qualification issued by the Korea Football Association, and all coaches of the SON Soccer Academy U-15 team possess valid qualifications." The firm further explained, "There is a distinction between a coach's 'qualification' and 'registration' as a team coach for participating in matches, tournaments, or leagues organized by the Korea Football Association."
Considering Director Son Ungjeong's schedule, which requires frequent travel to and from the United Kingdom, the U-15 team completed its coach registration primarily under Head Coach Son Heungyun. The incident occurred while the team was on a training camp in Japan prior to participating in the league.
Myungnyun Law Firm added, "Immediately after the incident, Head Coach Son Heungyun took responsibility and withdrew from the academy. Subsequently, Director Son Ungjeong registered as the U-15 team coach, and the team participated in the Gangwon regional middle school league." The firm explained, "According to the Korea Football Association Fairness Committee regulations, disciplinary actions apply only to coaches who are registered as team coaches for participation in association-organized leagues at the time of the incident. Since Director Son Ungjeong was neither present at the training camp nor registered as the U-15 team coach at the time, his three-month suspension was revoked." They emphasized that the suspension and its cancellation are unrelated to Director Son Ungjeong's coaching 'qualification.'
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