South Korea’s 2026 World Cup resulted in failure, and the anger again residence has not cooled because the staff crashed out of the group stage in North America.
Head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned after overseeing one of many nation’s worst showings at a significant event, with solely a single win to point out for it throughout three video games. President Lee Jae-myung went additional, demanding a authorities investigation into precisely the way it all went incorrect.
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That fury was comprehensible. However the response has now gone too far, resulting in riot police being deployed at Incheon airport to guard Hong and his returning squad once they land on Tuesday.
Picture by Carl Recine/Getty Pictures
Riot police deployed to guard Hong Myung-bo after World Cup loss of life risk
The Incheon Metropolitan Police Company confirmed it might ship 160 riot and airport officers to fulfill the nationwide staff within the nation’s third-largest metropolis, as reported by . An extra 25 particular safety guards have additionally been deployed.
The measures observe a risk to Hong’s life. A web based submit vowed to journey to Incheon airport and kill the 57-year-old on the day of his return — wording that pushed police to deal with the homecoming as a real safety danger.
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Police framed the operation as a precaution. They mentioned: “We’ll reply strictly to any unlawful acts, together with the throwing of objects.”
Hong had already stepped down earlier than the risk emerged, taking full duty for a marketing campaign that introduced a 2-1 win over Czechia however 1-0 defeats to co-hosts Mexico and to South Africa.
His in-game calls drew heavy criticism too, none extra so than benching captain Son Heung-min for the decisive closing group sport.
It was a well-known ending. Hong additionally led South Korea out on the backside of their group on the 2014 World Cup, and his second appointment was unpopular from the beginning.
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Soccer has all the time stirred deep emotion, and frustration at a wasted is a part of that. However a risk to kill a coach over outcomes on a pitch crosses a transparent line, and sits utterly at odds with the spirit the event is meant to foster.
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