According to Korean media outlet Star News, Chi So-yeon, a prominent South Korean women's footballer playing for Suwon FC Women, recently spoke about a previous controversy with match officials. Although the referee visited the club to meet with her, Chi So-yeon stated that she could not say she received a genuine apology. "It felt more like they were explaining what happened at the time rather than apologizing," she said.

The incident occurred on August 28 during a Korean Women's League match between Suwon FC Women and Seoul City Hall at the Suwon Sports Complex. During the match, when Chi So-yeon questioned referee Bae Sung-yeon's decision, the referee reportedly used a code word "Girls' Day" over the radio communication, which is understood to be a reference to menstruation.

After Chi So-yeon protested, the referee first showed a yellow card. When Chi So-yeon threw her water bottle to the ground in frustration, Bae Sung-yeon pulled out a red card and engaged with her in a rather aggressive manner, though ultimately did not show the red card directly.

The controversy was further fueled by the fact that despite referees initially claiming they "did not use the word menstruation," as more details emerged, the public came to believe that the referee had indeed used a code word referring to menstruation at the time.

Chi So-yeon later pointed out that the incident exposed not only inappropriate language but also a certain hierarchical relationship that exists in Korean women's football.

She stated, "At the time, if a younger player had heard that comment, they might not have been able to say anything."

As a veteran player in Korean women's football, Chi So-yeon believes she was able to speak up and express her dissatisfaction. However, younger players with less experience and limited influence within their teams might only be able to remain silent when facing similar situations.

The Korean Professional Footballers Association also criticized the incident. According to the association, in response to the conflict, the acting chair of the Korean Football Association's Referee Committee visited Suwon FC Women and explained that the comment was not directed at Chi So-yeon individually but at all players on the pitch at the time.

However, this explanation only raised greater skepticism.

If the comment was not directed at a specific player but at all female players on the pitch, it arguably means even more players were affected by the inappropriate remark.

Kim Hun-gi, secretary general of the Korean Professional Footballers Association, commented on this: "The severity of the problem is not diminished simply because it was not directed at one individual. The first thing to consider is why players are hurt by such comments."

According to reports, this controversy is only a small part of the problems facing Korea's football refereeing system recently. In addition to controversial decisions, insufficient communication, and aggressive referee behavior during matches, conflicts stemming from inappropriate referee conduct continue to occur.

Previously, Moon Jin-hee, former chair of the KFA Referee Committee, faced harsh criticism for his conduct during a parliamentary hearing. At the time, he was criticized for answering questions with his hands in his pockets and displaying an arrogant attitude.

Regarding the fact that Korean referees have not officiated a World Cup final for 16 consecutive years, Moon Jin-hee attributed the issue to the Korean football environment, stating that "when matches are lost, people blame the referees." After suspicions of so-called conflicts of interest and insider dealings, such as "personally arranging referees," came to light, he resigned days later.

From the referee committee chair's resignation to serious refereeing errors in matches and inappropriate comments directed at players from positions of authority on the pitch, this accumulation of problems is deepening the crisis of trust in Korea's football refereeing system.

For Korean women's football, this incident may serve as another warning that referees and players should be viewed as enforcers and participants of the game's rules, rather than judging one another based on hierarchical relationships rooted in status and power.

Korean media concludes that Chi So-yeon's candid remarks, coming from a star of Korean women's football, have drawn renewed attention to an important question: if even the most prominent player in Korean women's football felt compelled to speak up to protect her rights, can younger players truly express their concerns when facing similar situations?

AI翻訳。

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