Chung Mong-kyu, president of the Korea Football Association, was asked by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to impose severe disciplinary measures beyond the minimum suspension of qualifications, which hindered his bid for a fourth term.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism finally announced the results of a specific audit of the Korea Football Association at the annex of the Seoul Government Complex in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 5th.
According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, a total of 27 illegal and unfair matters were identified through the audit, and improvement was notified to reprimand, correct, demand attention, or come up with reasonable improvement measures.
As for the details of the request for disposition, 16 executives and employees including Chairman Chung Mong-gyu were reprimanded. They also included two corrective actions, nine caution and warnings, two system improvement actions and seven notifications.
In particular, in the case of Chairman Chung, he demanded that severe punishment beyond suspension of qualifications be imposed in accordance with the rules of the Korea Football Association’s Fair Committee.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism cited the violation of the process of appointing former German coach Jurgen Klinsmann and current men’s soccer team coach Hong Myung-bo as grounds for demanding disciplinary action, including improper handling of the business department related to the construction of the Cheonan Football Center, unfair handling of match manipulation officials, payment of advisory fees for women who work part-time, and unfair management of soccer leaders’ classes.
However, it was a request for disciplinary action, not a clear disciplinary action.
Choi Hyun-joon, an inspector at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism who held the briefing, said, “I think expulsion, dismissal, and suspension of qualifications are severe disciplinary action based on the rules of the Korea Football Association’s Fair Trade Commission,” adding, “We believe the FTC can choose between these three.”
“We do not recommend disciplinary action, but demand it. According to regulations, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has the authority to demand disciplinary action, and the decision is made by the Korea Football Association’s Fair Trade Commission,” he said. “We expect the Korea Football Association to make a desirable decision in line with the public’s standards and public opinion.”
Inspector Choi also pointed out that it is not a third-party intervention emphasized by FIFA.
On September 29, FIFA sent an official letter stating FIFA regulations and obligations to comply with member associations, such as Article 14 of the Articles of Incorporation “should not be interfered with by third parties” and Article 15 “should be independent from any political interference,” saying that the Korea Football Association is facing various suspicions from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Khalifa, who recently visited Korea, also directly mentioned the situation of the Korea Football Association.
“This is not aimed at infringing upon the autonomy of the Korea Football Association. The ministry also respects FIFA’s articles of association and the autonomy of the Korea Football Association,” Choi said. “As far as I know, FIFA understands it as an audit to achieve good governance.”
Baton has now moved on to the Korea Football Association’s Fair Trade Commission, but it is unclear whether the Fair Trade Commission will be held immediately.
After a briefing on the audit results, the Korea Football Association said, “The Korea Football Association is considering a request for reconsideration on the results of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism audit.”
Chairman Chung’s bid for a fourth term will still remain in the fog.
Chairman Chung never directly mentioned trying for a fourth term, but he did not directly deny, saying, “I will not challenge” to the four-term questions that continued during the parliamentary audit. 먹튀검증
On top of that, the prevailing view is that he is willing to serve a second term, considering his actions such as the election of AFC executive members in May.
This is because if you become an executive of an international organization, you are more likely to be granted an exception to the limit on the number of consecutive terms after deliberation by the Korea Sports Council’s Sports Fair Committee.