National football federation urges halt to personal attacks on players
The national football federation on Tuesday called on people to refrain from hurling insults and personal attacks on players, saying such behavior does not help the sport. In a statement, the Korea Football Association (KFA) noted the recent spread of "unverified information and speculative assertions" on social media and online communities regarding members of the men's national team. The…
The Korea Football Association has urged the public to stop making personal attacks and insulting the country's national football players. The federation claims that such behavior does not contribute positively to the sport.
The KFA pointed out the recent surge of unverified information and baseless claims circulating on social media and online platforms about members of the men's national team. The team, known as the Taegeuk Warriors, has been the subject of controversy due to rumors of internal disputes.
Following a friendly match against Uzbekistan on the previous Tuesday, three players born in 1996 - Hwang Hee-chan, Hwang In-beom and Kim Min-jae - allegedly told their teammates that they intended to retire from international play. They cited their dissatisfaction with the leadership group, which includes longtime captain Son Heung-min and his fellow 34-year-old teammate Lee Jae-sung.
Online football forums and YouTube channels have been flooded with speculation about the events within the national team - with some supporters backing Son Heung-min for the captaincy, while others are calling for him to relinquish the role and allow a younger player to take over. The KFA emphasized that they respect the players' opinions but are urging the public to refrain from spreading negativity and personal attacks.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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