Seoul: The South Korean professional football league said Wednesday it will open disciplinary proceedings against a club owner for his public criticism of officiating.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the Korea Professional Football League (K League) announced that FC Anyang owner Choi Dae-ho, who is also the mayor of Anyang, just south of Seoul, will face a disciplinary committee meeting. This decision follows Choi's public denunciation of referees during a press conference held on Tuesday.
"We express our grave regrets that the accuracy and fairness of officiating in the league has come into question," the league stated. "We cannot overlook the current situation where baseless claims have been made that a particular club has been getting unfair calls because it is not as big and rich as some others."
During his press conference, Choi argued that FC Anyang had been consistently disadvantaged by referees, with some decisions so questionable that they potentially influenced the results of matches. He also accused the K League of being controlled by a few wealthy clubs owned by large corporations, alleging that referees tend to favor those teams over clubs like FC Anyang, which are city-run and less affluent.
FC Anyang made headlines last season by winning the second-tier K League 2, securing their first-ever promotion to the top-tier K League 1 for this year. However, controversy is not new for Choi, as the club received a fine of 2 million won (approximately US$1,440) in July 2023 after he criticized referees on social media.
In light of Choi's recent comments, the K League referenced a league rule that prohibits public criticism of officiating. The league has announced plans to convene its disciplinary committee shortly. "While clubs' different financial situations may affect their performances on the field, league rules and operating principles apply equally to all clubs," the league emphasized.