There is a lot of controversy over the first round of the promotion playoff (PO) where Asan, South Chungcheong Province, which ranks second in the K League 2, and the 11th in the K League 1, will clash. While Asan Yi Sun-shin Stadium, Asan’s home stadium, cannot be used for grass replacement, Cheonan Stadium is being considered as an alternative stadium.
The problem is that Cheonan Stadium is home to Asan’s “rival club” Cheonan City (K League 2). Asan and Cheonan have formed distinct rival teams, including conflicts between supporters last year, as well as regional relations. However, chances are high that the first round of promotion PO, which will be decided whether Asan will be promoted to the K League 1, will be held at the home stadium of no other than regional rivals.
It is natural that Cheonan’s fans are strongly opposed to the Cheonan’s home turf. “This is senseless and senseless behavior that shakes the foundation of the local relationship of professional soccer,” the Cheonan supporter Zephyros said in a statement. “This is an arbitrary decision based on the unscrupulous selfishness of Asan that makes use of the local ties. The decision should be held in South Chungcheong Province, which has no soccer ties, or in other regions, which do not have an original team.” The Cheonan City Hall website is also receiving a flurry of comments criticizing the Cheonan administration, saying, “I oppose the top-down method without explaining the need for full sympathy or explanation.”
In particular, fans’ complaints are growing as the political circles are also known to have been involved in the hosting of the Cheonan Sports Complex. Lee Joon-il, CEO of Asan, explained that Kim Tae-heum, governor of South Chungcheong Province, who belongs to the same party, mediated the decision and Cheonan Mayor Park Sang-don agreed. Moreover, Governor Kim has been criticized by fans for mentioning the possibility of merging the two distinctly different clubs, Asan and Cheonan, several times. This is why some criticize that the hosting of the Cheonan Sports Complex in the first round of the promotion PO is also due to a sense of K-League affiliation or ignorance about the relationship between the two clubs. 토토사이트
The Asan club, which is preparing for an important gateway to the promotion challenge, says it is somewhat unfair. The conclusion is that it did not push for the hosting of Cheonan Sports Complex from the beginning, but after a long and hard effort to find another alternative stadium. However, Cheonan fans have no doubt that they did not secure an alternative stadium even though they had enough time as the Asan club’s last home game was on September 24.
Although no official announcement has been made yet, the soccer community is already considering holding the first round of the promotion PO at Cheonan Stadium. If there are no major variables until the official announcement, the Asan team will hold the first round of the promotion PO at its rival team’s home turf on May 28 or May 1. Cheonan fans will have to suffer humiliation of losing their home turf to rival teams. It will be another sketch that will remain in K-League history.