“예민하네, 생리하나”…WK리그 심판, 지소연 항의에 막말 후 경고까지

A women's football (WK) league referee faced backlash after using derogatory language towards a player during a match between Suwon FC Umin and Seoul City Hall on March 28th. The incident occurred when the visiting player approached the referee to lodge an objection regarding an aggressive foul committed by the opposing team. In response, the main referee remarked, "She's been delicate since the beginning.

Remember, it's her period," which was met with strong objection from the affected player, 지소연. In the presence of onlookers, the referee apologized but instead handed out a yellow card, interrupting the game for about four minutes. The Korean Football Association (KFA) initially stated that the referee did not use the term "생리" (period) directly, but later acknowledged that they used the phrase "걸스데이" (girls' day) as a euphemism for menstruation.

Both the team and players demanded severe disciplinary action. The Suwon FC organization formally lodged an objection with the KFA and the Korean Women's Football Association, requesting a thorough investigation. The club expressed regret on 31st, saying, "We need to conduct a thorough investigation after assessing the situation with our players and coach."

The referee was also warned, apart from the player who protested. The club emphasized the need for respect between officials and players, stating, "Even if a referee can give a warning to a protesting player, mutual respect is crucial." The Korean Professional Football Players' Union (KPFP) criticized the incident as a serious violation of human rights and power abuse on the field, urging measures to prevent recurrence.

KPFP joint general secretary 이근호 called out the referee for humiliating both teams' players, saying, "The referee who should protect the players most intimately has instead shamed them all with such insensitive remarks." The KFA plans to discuss this issue at a meeting of the evaluation committee this week.