Chung Mong-gyu, 59, chairman of the Korea Football Association, apologized for the complete defeat in the friendly match against Korea and Japan.
On the 26th, Chairman Chung said, “I am very sorry to the football fans, footballers, and the people who were disappointed in the defeat of the Korean and Japanese matches of the national team that was held yesterday.”
The Korean national team, led by coach Paulo Bento, lost 0-3 in a friendly match against Japan held at the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama, Japan on the 25th.
The defeat by three goals in the match against Japan and Korea was the third time after the regular match held in Tokyo in September 1974 (1-4) and the evaluation match held in Sapporo in August 2011. The three goals are the most points lost in the match between Korea and Japan.
Even if it was a game played while the main players such as Son Heung-min (Tottenham) could not join, the fans were criticized after being completely defeated after a helpless play.
Chairman Chung said, “The association judged that it was the only opportunity to strengthen the national team’s abilities ahead of the World Cup qualifiers, and despite the burden of Korea and Japan, we promoted this game.” “I would like to apologize for causing you a lot of concern,” he said.
He added, “I don’t think it is fair to be blamed only on Bento for this defeat.”
He promised, “I will use this work as a mirror to support me more actively. I will listen to the voices of the clubs and leaders, and talk more.”
In addition, he pledged, “We will do our best to accurately identify the cause of the problem and to become a new national team, a new national team that will give joy and hope to football fans and the people in the World Cup preliminary that will begin in June.”
Meanwhile, Korea will hold the remaining matches of the 2022 International Football Federation (FIFA) Qatar World Cup Asian region second qualifiers in Korea in June, which was postponed due to the aftermath of Corona 19.
Reporter Yoon Jong Han [email protected]
Photo = Provided by the Korea Football Association
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