[스포츠한국 김성수 기자] The Korea Football Association completely canceled the amnesty of 100 soccer players, including 48 match-fixers. Lee Young-pyo, Lee Dong-guk, vice president of the Korea Football Association, and Cho Won-hee, chairman of the Social Contribution Committee, announced that they felt responsible for the situation and resigned from their positions.
On the followingnoon of the 31st of last month, the Korea Football Association held a temporary board of directors meeting at the Soccer Center in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and decided to withdraw the pardon for disciplinary soccer players decided on the 28th of last month.
On the 28th of last month, the Korea Football Association announced that it would pardon 100 soccer players who are under disciplinary action, including 48 who were involved in match-fixing in 2011, through a surprise board meeting on the 28th of last month. However, following receiving great criticism from public opinion, the amnesty of a total of 100 disciplinary soccer players, including 48 professional soccer match-fixing participants, was completely canceled following a reexamination.
The Korea Football Association’s board of directors said, “When dealing with disciplinary action for serious criminal acts such as match fixing, we should have thought more deeply and listened to opinions from all walks of life, but our thoughts were short and we lacked awareness.” I am very sorry for causing great confusion and concern to fans.”
And three days following the withdrawal of the amnesty, Lee Dong-guk opened his mouth. Lee Dong-guk, who has been a player for a long time in professional soccer, was criticized for not revealing any position on the amnesty even though he was in the position of vice-president of the Korea Football Association.
On the 3rd, through his SNS, Lee Dong-guk said, “In February of this year, at the suggestion of the Korea Football Association, I was appointed vice president of the association. I feel responsible for not being able to prevent it by saying it clearly. I am completely aware of my responsibility and intend to step down from the position at this time.”
And at the same time, Lee Young-pyo also said, “I resign from the post of vice-president of the Korea Football Association today, taking responsibility for not blocking the passage of the board of directors related to the Korean Football Association’s disciplinary pardon last week. As a member of the Football Association, I feel with a heavy heart all the criticisms of football fans, recalling once once more the ordinary fact that good administration is created through sufficient dissent and majority voices.”
Cho Won-hee also said, “I am sorry that this happened not long following I served as the Korea Football Association’s social contribution chairman, and as one of the people on the board at the time, I sincerely apologize for hurting fans who love soccer. As a person who sincerely loves soccer and as the Korea Football Association’s Social Contribution Chairman, I wanted to make positive changes through soccer, but I desperately feel that I am lacking in my current capabilities, so I want to step down as the Korea Football Association’s Social Contribution Chairman.”
