Authorities investigate Korean football association regarding selection of national team manager for global tournament

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Police raided South Korea’s football association on Thursday as part of an investigation into the appointment of the coach in charge during their dismal World Cup campaign.

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Police conducted “search and seizure operations” at the Korea Football Association (KFA) offices, probing allegations of “obstruction of business” in the recruitment of former coach Hong Myung-bo, a police spokesman told AFP.

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The 57-year-old Hong resigned in June after South Korea were knocked out at the group stage of the 48-team showpiece in the United States, Mexico and Canada following a shock 1-0 defeat to South Africa.

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Questions were already dogging the Korean Football Association over the 2024 appointment of Hong, but scrutiny has intensified since the team failed to make the last-32 knockout stage.

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Seoul police said 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.

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Local media reported authorities are investigating whether senior KFA officials improperly intervened in Hong’s appointment, allegedly in violation of internal rules.

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South Korea’s media had labelled the 2026 World Cup squad a “golden generation” and there were high hopes for a team featuring former Tottenham Hotspur star Son Heung-min, Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae and former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in.

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In late July, Hong was summoned before a committee of lawmakers, where he said he took “full responsibility” for the poor performance.

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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.

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The KFA declined to comment when contacted by AFP.

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Hong’s decision to leave Son on the bench in the first half for the decisive match against South Africa at the World Cup baffled and angered many supporters.

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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.

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Hong admitted he was struggling to understand what had gone wrong.

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At last month’s parliamentary hearing, MPs also raised claims Hong had enjoyed a salary of 3.8 billion won (US$2.6 million) — a figure reportedly at the high end for national coaches.

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Hong said at the time the figure was wrong, but declined to disclose the correct one.

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AFP

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