'Water Bottle Throwing' Incident in Incheon: Home 5 Games Supporter Stands Closed and 20 Million KRW Fine Imposed

Closure of Approximately 5,000-Seat Home Supporters' Section

In relation to the mass bottle-throwing incident by home spectators on the field, professional football K League 1 club Incheon United has been sanctioned by the Korea Professional Football League with a 'closure of the home supporters' section for 5 matches.'

On the afternoon of the 16th, disciplinary committee members are discussing at the Korea Professional Football Federation in Jongno-gu, Seoul, regarding the 'water bottle throwing' incident. (From left) Disciplinary committee members Jeon Gyeong-jun and Park Soon-gyu, Chairman of the disciplinary committee Jo Nam-don, and disciplinary committee member Lee Geun-ho.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the 16th, the Professional Football League held the 8th Disciplinary Committee meeting and ordered the Incheon club to hold their next 5 home matches with the supporters' section closed, imposing a fine of 20 million KRW.

During the Hana Bank K League 1 2024 Round 12 match held on the 11th at the Incheon Football Stadium, Incheon lost 1-2 to FC Seoul. Following this, Incheon home fans collectively threw dozens of bottles at the Seoul players on the field. In this process, Seoul player Ki Sung-yueng was hit in a sensitive area by a flying bottle, causing an accident.

The league explained the disciplinary background, stating, "According to Article 20, Clause 6 of the match regulations, the home team has the obligation to ensure safety and maintain order in the home stadium during and before/after the match." They added, "Unlike past cases where only a few individuals threw bottles, this incident involved dozens of people collectively throwing bottles at players, making the matter serious."

With the Disciplinary Committee deciding on the closure of the home supporters' section for 5 matches, approximately 5,000 seats in the home supporters' section (S Zone) out of the total 18,159 seats at the Incheon Football Stadium will be completely closed.

Additionally, the league imposed a fine of 7 million KRW on Seoul goalkeeper Baek Jong-beom for 'unsportsmanlike conduct towards spectators.'

Baek Jong-beom raised both arms and clenched his fists in a victorious roar towards the Incheon supporters immediately after the referee's whistle signaling the end of the match, which provoked the Incheon fans and led to the 'bottle-throwing' incident.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.