Seoul: FIFA has communicated to the South Korean football federation its respect for the national body's decision to exonerate Gwangju FC following a registration mishap. Additionally, FIFA has left open the possibility of future penalties for Gwangju FC of the K League 1 for any further violations.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korea Football Association (KFA) received a letter from FIFA stating that it was within the KFA's jurisdiction to determine player eligibility in domestic competitions. This correspondence was in response to Gwangju FC's failure to pay $3,000 in FIFA solidarity contributions after signing forward Jasir Asani from Albania in December 2022. These fees are intended to benefit players' former clubs from ages 12 to 23.
Gwangju FC attributed the oversight to an employee who went on leave in September 2024 without sharing necessary information with colleagues. This led to FIFA imposing a registration ban on Gwangju FC on December 17, 2024, and requesting the KFA to provide evidence of penalty implementation at the national level. FIFA warned that non-compliance could result in sanctions, potentially leading to expulsion from FIFA competitions. Gwangju FC was unaware of the ban due to the KFA forwarding the FIFA decision solely to the absent employee, delaying communication to other club officials. Consequently, Gwangju deployed newly signed players early in the K League 1 season, prompting rival clubs to argue for 3-0 losses in Gwangju's matches for fielding ineligible players.
FIFA lifted the ban in May after Gwangju FC settled the payment. Before this resolution, the KFA deemed it "excessive" to disqualify new Gwangju players for an "unintentional administrative mistake." FIFA noted that Gwangju's new players were registered domestically during the winter transfer window in early 2025 and participated without KFA objections.
"From Gwangju FC's perspective, they would have concluded their players were eligible, and the decision on this situation is up to the KFA," FIFA stated, as reported by the KFA. The KFA was instructed to inform other clubs that no penalties would be imposed on matches involving the contested players.
For now, Gwangju FC is expected to avoid match forfeitures. However, FIFA emphasized that its stance was an "administrative interpretation" and signaled the potential for further sanctions or actions against the KFA or Gwangju FC for registration ban violations.
FIFA did not elaborate on possible penalties. A KFA official mentioned that FIFA had not requested any documents concerning the issue, adding that if FIFA deemed further inquiry necessary, it would make the appropriate requests.
The KFA refrained from sharing FIFA's letter with the media, adhering to the international body's advice, as there are ongoing discussions between the two organizations.