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'Everything is great': FIFA president defends KFA despite criticism of manager appointments

Published: 29 Oct. 2024, 12:37 Updated: 29 Oct. 2024, 16:55

PAIK JI-HWAN
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino, left, poses for a photo with Korea Football Association (KFA) President Chung Mong-gyu at the KFA House in central Seoul on Monday. [YONHAP]

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Monday that the Korea Football Association (KFA) runs “exceptionally well,” despite alleged flaws in the appointment processes of current Korean national team manager Hong Myung-bo and his predecessor, Jurgen Klinsmann.

Infantino visited the KFA House in central Seoul, where he met with KFA President Chung Mong-gyu and other football officials, including Ulsan HD Sporting Director Kim Kwang-guk. Ulsan is set to compete in the expanded FIFA Club World Cup in 2025.

The FIFA president’s meeting with the officials comes ahead of his visit to the AFC Annual Awards, set to take place at Kyung Hee University in eastern Seoul on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters at the KFA House, he said, “The KFA decides, for example, who the national team coach has to be and all other sporting decisions. Autonomy in sports is crucial. The KFA runs exceptionally well, and everything is great.”

His remarks contrast with criticism from Korean football fans and lawmakers, who have stated that the KFA failed to operate properly during the controversial appointment processes for Hong and Klinsmann.

The appointment of Hong has drawn criticism since it was announced on July 7, as KFA Technical Director Lee Lim-saeng allegedly bypassed the National Team Committee, responsible for selecting a national team manager, and appointed Hong on his own.

The process for Klinsmann, who took the national team job in February last year and was fired in February this year, also did not follow proper procedures, according to a document released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which launched an investigation into the KFA.

Korean national team manager Hong Myung-bo, left, and Korea Football Association Presidet Chung Mong-gyu during the parliamentary committee on culture, sports and tourism at the National Assembly in western Seoul on Sept. 24. [NEWS1]

Lawmaker Lee Ki-heon told Chung during a hearing at the National Assembly’s sports committee in western Seoul on Sept. 24 that the president had undue influence over the appointment of Klinsmann.

Lee stated that Chung pushed former National Team Committee Head Thomas Muller to unilaterally take charge of the appointment process even before the committee was formed. He also showed a slide from the KFA that he claimed demonstrated Klinsmann was already the frontrunner before the committee even met.

The ministry also said that KFA rules stipulate that the KFA board must approve the appointment of a manager recommended by the National Team Committee. However, the board did not approve Klinsmann's appointment, resulting in a breach of proper procedure.

Inspector General Choi Hyun-joon said during a briefing on the ministry’s interim results of the ongoing probe on Oct. 2 that the ministry will request punishment for Chung, as he violated the rules.

It remains unclear whether the final results of the investigation will force Hong to step down, as Choi stated that it is difficult to determine whether his contract is ineffective.

Hong has already coached four national team matches since taking the helm, recording three wins and one draw in the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The removal of Hong would leave Korea with six qualifiers left to play in Group B of the third qualifying round, where the top two directly reach the World Cup.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [[email protected]]