The Korean Football Association (KFA)’s’surprise amnesty for 100 people’ was completely withdrawn in three days, but there is no sign that the aftermath will subside.
The reason for the disciplinary action and the level of punishment for 52 people, including match-fixing offenders (48 people) among those subject to pardon, were all disclosed on the 5th. It was revealed that the KFA tried to grant indulgence even to those who had been expelled due to financial corruption or violence.
In the meantime, KFA apologized by emphasizing the part where the match-fixing expulsion was put in when apologizing for the controversy over the surprise pardon. The reason why the backlash from the fans was strong was because of the content that the match manipulator was pardoned. As match-fixing is considered one of the worst ills in the sports world, this was the reason why the KFA suddenly tried to pardon it.
In the meantime, the remaining 52 members of the KFA were covered in match-fixing, avoiding the concentration of public opinion. Even board members were known to briefly check the list on a tablet PC rather than paper data, so KFA prevented the leak of these names. As the demand for disclosure of the list grew stronger, KFA reacted sensitively, citing violations of the Personal Information Protection Act and defamation. It was the background that led to a reasonable suspicion that there was a real reason for the KFA to seek a surprise pardon among the remaining 52 people, not match fixing.
Previously, a KFA official said, “All (52 people) were disciplined due to violent accidents during amateur games or accidents that occurred in club soccer. There are no well-known figures on the list of 52 people,” he explained. This was quickly exposed as a lie. On the 5th, when Rep. Ha Tae-kyung of the People’s Power released the’list of pardon subjects’ submitted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Football Association, the reason for the disciplinary action of the remaining 52 people who had been hidden was revealed, and it was found that prominent figures were included.
In addition to match-fixing, the KFA tried to exonerate 17 people who were expelled for financial corruption (8 people), violence against players and referees (5 people), and cheating in practical tests (4 people).
In particular, among the 52 people, former national team players and KFA chairpersons who committed embezzlement while serving as chairman of the K-League club and their officials were included. Judging by the reason for the disciplinary action and the year, there are also suspicions that it includes people involved in major corruption cases that occurred at KFA earlier. It is worthy of analysis that this is the reason why the list was thoroughly hidden and concealed. 스포츠토토
Public opinion worsened after the announcement of the surprise pardon on March 28, and when news of a temporary board meeting was announced on the 31st, concerns were raised that “only 48 match-fixing people may withdraw their pardons and the remaining 52 may enforce pardons.” It was for the same reason. Chairman Chung Mong-kyu’s explanation was also needed for ‘my’, who tried to thoroughly hide the 52 people who were disciplined for corruption and violence in the aftermath of the endless surprise amnesty.