Sports Ministry Presses Football Association Again on Disciplinary Measures

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) has officially reiterated its demand for the Korea Football Association (KFA) to implement disciplinary actions against key figures, including Chairman Chung Mong-gyu.

This renewed call follows a court ruling that upheld the legality of the MCST's special audit findings and demands. On the 23rd of last month, the Administrative Division 5 of the Seoul Administrative Court dismissed the KFA's lawsuit seeking to invalidate the notification of the special audit results and the subsequent demand for action. The court determined that the audit results and the demanded actions fell within the scope of discretionary power, thus providing a legal basis for the MCST's demand for 'suspension or heavier penalties' issued in November of last year.

The court found issues with the appropriateness of several matters flagged in the MCST's audit, including Chairman Chung Mong-gyu's intervention in the national team coach selection process, procedural problems in the selection of coach Hong Myung-bo, the football complex project, the amnesty for football figures, executive advisory fees, and the operation of coaching seminars.

On the 30th, the MCST sent an official document to the KFA, once again urging the implementation of the 'disposition of audit results and demand for action' that was initially requested on November 5th of last year. The KFA announced that it would convene its board meeting, originally scheduled for the 12th, on the 6th to internally review and decide whether to file an appeal.