"Even Losing Like This, Who Is to Blame?"... Harsher Malicious Comments Intensify from Players to Association President

Amid South Korea's shocking defeat to Jordan in the semifinals, 'malicious comments' targeting Jo Gyu-seong (26, Midtjylland), the starting striker of the Klinsmann-led team, have resurfaced.

Jo Gyu-seong expressing regret as his shot goes wide of the goalpost in the Korea-Jordan match held on the 20th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

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On the 7th (Korean time), the South Korean national football team, led by coach J?rgen Klinsmann, suffered a shocking 0-2 loss to Jordan in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup semifinals held at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar. While Jordan recorded seven shots on target, South Korea failed to register a single shot on target, showing a poor performance.

Football fans' anger was directed at Jo Gyu-seong, who was substituted in for Park Yong-woo, who was responsible for the opening goal conceded in the 11th minute of the second half. The biggest reason was Jo receiving a yellow card for simulation action in the opponent's penalty box in the 43rd minute of the second half while trailing 0-2. Simulation foul refers to a situation where the defender did not touch the attacker at all, but the attacker fell down, or even if there was contact, the attacker intentionally fell to induce a foul. As a result, various critical posts about Jo Gyu-seong receiving a yellow card in the semifinal have been posted on social media and online communities.

Previously, Jo Gyu-seong also faced harsh criticism from fans for his poor performance in the group stage. He was evaluated as failing to show a threatening presence as the main striker in the Asian Cup. Although he scored a dramatic equalizer in stoppage time of the round of 16 match against Saudi Arabia, setting the stage for a penalty shootout victory, his unnecessary foul in the Jordan match again became the trigger for a barrage of malicious comments.

After the match, Jo Gyu-seong expressed, "I am very disappointed. I think I need to improve a lot," and added, "This tournament made me realize how much I am lacking." He continued, "I wanted to leave with a good performance before returning to my club. I thought I prepared well for the tournament, but it is truly regrettable," and bowed his head, saying, "The tournament is over, and now I am going back to my club. We talked among the players to regroup and prepare well again."

Broadcaster Lee Kyung-kyu watching the Korea-Jordan match. On this day, Lee Kyung-kyu strongly criticized the president of the Football Association and called for his resignation.
[Photo by YouTube 'God Kyung-kyu']

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Coach Klinsmann was not spared from the barrage of malicious comments either. From before the tournament, Klinsmann sparked many controversies with remote work, player selection, social media activity, and lack of tactics, raising fans' doubts. The hope for a first championship in 64 years ended in disappointment and shock, bringing anger as well. Regarding the failure to achieve results, Klinsmann said, "As a coach, if I finish the tournament without achieving the goals I wanted, I need to analyze more and take responsibility," adding, "I think today is the time to accept this defeat. Jordan was the opponent, but I think they played a good game." He further said, "Bahrain also advanced to the round of 16, so it was a tough group. Since we did not achieve our goals, I think we need to analyze the tournament carefully."

When asked about his intention to resign, he said, "What needs to be done right now is to return to Korea, analyze carefully, supplement, and discuss points that need improvement. Anyway, we have to think about the future," and added, "We have to play the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers. The most important thing now is to analyze this tournament well and prepare better going forward," showing his intention to remain as coach.

Netizens responded negatively with comments such as, "Why not try Hollywood while you're at it?" "Well done with the bed football," "Doing Hollywood acting while losing," "After seeing such a pathetic performance, I am convinced there is no future for Korean football," and "Did I stay up all night to watch this kind of game?"

As malicious comments directed at players have crossed the line, FIFA and the International Professional Footballers' Association have been providing a service since before the 2022 Qatar World Cup to report malicious comments posted on players' or teams' social media accounts. The purpose is to allow players to perform at their best in matches free from online derogatory remarks and threats.

Meanwhile, South Korea, ranked 23rd in the FIFA rankings, suffered a heavy 0-2 defeat to Jordan, ranked 87th. The South Korean team, boasting stars such as Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Kim Min-jae (Munich), Lee Kang-in (PSG), and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), was praised as the "strongest ever," raising fans' expectations. A survey conducted among experts predicted South Korea had a 69.6% chance of beating Jordan, making the shock even greater.

In the early hours of the 7th, comedian Lee Kyung-gyu, who was doing a reaction broadcast for the Jordan match on his YouTube channel 'God Kyung-gyu,' shouted after the match ended in Korea's defeat, "Who is the president of the Football Association? Honestly, he should take responsibility and step down. Jung Mong-gyu, if you made it like this, you should resign. How long are you going to keep this position?" Announcer Kim Hwan also said, "Someone has to take responsibility today." Former national football player Lee Chun-soo, who was commentating the match, urged Klinsmann to resign immediately after seeing him smile on TV following the loss, saying, "As a coach who receives billions of won and promised Asian Cup victory, he must take responsibility for failing."

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