Safety forces had been deployed in vital numbers on the airport forward of South Korea’s return house, after resigning coach Hong Myung-bo obtained demise threats.
South Korea opened its FIFA World Cup marketing campaign impressively with a 2-1 win over Czechia, however fortunes quickly declined. The nation endured back-to-back 1-0 losses to Mexico and South Africa to seal its elimination, failing to advance as one of many prime eight third-place group finishers.
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The defeat to South Africa in Monterrey proved particularly damaging, a match wherein Hong made the contentious determination to drop out-of-form ahead Son Heung-min from the beginning XI. With many anticipating the aspect to progress to the knockout phases, followers reacted with outrage to the untimely exit, launching a petition calling for Hong’s dismissal, as per .
-Credit score:Carl Recine, Getty Photographs
Following the workforce’s group stage elimination and a subsequent evaluation into the underwhelming shows, Korea’s president ordered an investigation, prompting Hong to step down as South Korea’s head coach. The 57-year-old grew to become the fourth supervisor to exit after disappointing ends in North America.
Forward of the workforce’s return to Incheon from Mexico, the Incheon Metropolitan Police Company confirmed it was dispatching 160 riot and airport cops. An extra 25 specialised safety personnel had been additionally deployed following the risk made in opposition to Hong’s life.
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A police assertion learn: “We’ve got determined to deploy officers to forestall security accidents which will happen throughout the entry course of. We are going to reply strictly to any unlawful acts, together with the throwing of objects.”
Korean information company reported a web based put up that learn: “I’ll take the lead and kill Hong Myung-bo XXX,” – and added that they might “go to Incheon Airport and kill Hong Myung-bo on the day of his return.”
To hearken to the most recent episode of ‘All Out Soccer’ –
South Korea entered the World Cup ranked above each Czechia and South Africa, but didn’t ship when it counted. Hong’s tactical selections, sport plans, and substitutions drew heavy scrutiny, most notably his determination to bench Son.
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Whereas the Koreans had been shedding to South Africa, Hong took off center-back Kim Min-jae, changing him with a fellow defender somewhat than an attacking possibility — a name that left followers livid.
South Korean president Lee Jae Myung took to social media to declare he was “completely baffled” by the outcomes and known as for an investigation into the workforce’s World Cup exit. He posted: “I’m not simply shocked by this surprising end result. I’m completely baffled. I discover the surprising end result not merely disappointing however really absurd. When loyalty and factionalism are valued over competence, and incompetent persons are appointed to management positions, the result is all however inevitable.
“I provide my deepest apologies to the general public for the profound disappointment attributable to this unacceptable end result. We are going to transfer swiftly to reform sports activities administration to make sure that nothing like this occurs once more.
“The rationale such botched appointments – which fail to differentiate between public and non-public pursuits and prioritise private acquire over the general public good – are doable is that it’s not possible or troublesome to observe, examine, and maintain these with appointment authority accountable On condition that vital nationwide taxpayer funds and state help sources are invested even in World Cup participation, I ask that the Ministry of Tradition, Sports activities and Tourism totally examine the exact circumstances of this incident, analyze its causes, and develop thorough measures for stopping recurrence and enchancment.”
-Credit score:JADE GAO, AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Hong was introduced on board following the pricey dismissal of Jürgen Klinsmann in 2024. The hiring course of for each coaches was dominated improper by the Seoul Administrative Courtroom, which decided that soccer affiliation president Chung Mong-gyu had circumvented correct procedures and undermined the board to safe their appointments.
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Chung might nonetheless face disciplinary measures amid an ongoing authorized dispute with the nation’s Ministry of Tradition, Sports activities and Tourism. Hong had beforehand guided Korea to the 2014 World Cup, however the event ended with out a single victory in Brazil, with the aspect ending backside of a gaggle that additionally featured Belgium, Algeria, and Russia.