Police in South Korea raided the headquarters of the country's football association on Thursday as part of an investigation into the appointment of the coach who oversaw their disappointing World Cup campaign.
Search and Seizure at Korea Football Association
According to AFP, police conducted search and seizure operations at the Korea Football Association (KFA) offices amid allegations of obstruction of business in the recruitment of former coach Hong Myung-bo. The 57-year-old resigned in June after South Korea were eliminated in the group stage following a shock 1-0 defeat by South Africa.
Questions had already been raised about the KFA's decision to appoint Hong in 2024, but scrutiny intensified after the team failed to advance to the knockout stage. Seoul police confirmed that financial crimes investigators were looking into whether there were charges of obstruction of business during the appointment of Hong Myung-bo, a spokesman told AFP.
Allegations of Improper Intervention
Local media reported that authorities are investigating whether senior KFA officials improperly intervened in Hong's appointment, allegedly in violation of internal rules. In late July, Hong was summoned before a committee of lawmakers, where he said he took full responsibility for the poor performance.
President Lee Jae Myung blamed the failure on incompetent people promoted to leadership, in a statement alluding to loyalty and factionalism tainting recruitment at the sport's top level. The KFA declined to comment when contacted by AFP.
Fan Anger and Player Selection Controversy
Hong's decision to leave former Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min on the bench for the first half of the decisive match against South Africa baffled and angered many supporters. In June, South Korea fans greeted Hong's return from the World Cup with boos and chants of 'Hong out!' while applauding the players who emerged behind him at the airport. Hong admitted he was struggling to understand what had gone wrong.
Salary Dispute and Parliamentary Scrutiny
At last month's parliamentary hearing, MPs also raised claims that Hong had enjoyed a salary of 3.8 billion won ($2.6 million). Hong insisted at the time that the figure was wrong but declined to reveal the correct one. The raid marks a significant escalation in the investigation, which could have major implications for the KFA's leadership and future appointments.
