As unverified rumors of discord within the South Korean national football team circulate, the Korean Football Association has called for an end to baseless speculation and personal attacks on players. The camp of Lee Kang-in (Atletico Madrid), who has been mentioned in connection with these rumors, has also emphasized that the claims are unfounded and has threatened legal action.
On October 13, the Football Association released a statement titled "A Message to Fans Who Love and Support Korean Football."
In the statement, the Association noted, "Recently, unverified information and speculative claims about the players of the South Korean national team have spread, particularly on social media and online communities, leading to excessive criticism and personal attacks against some players. We respect the diverse opinions and criticisms from fans regarding the players' performance and team management. However, we express deep concern over the situation where players are exposed to excessive criticism due to unfounded speculation and malicious slander, and we earnestly request restraint."
Recently, rumors of discord have emerged among the '96 line players, including captain Son Heung-min (LAFC), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Hwang In-beom (Porto), and Hwang Hee-chan (Schalke). Speculation about a joint retirement of the '96 line has intensified criticism directed at the players online.
The Football Association criticized the actions of those interpreting isolated training scenes or everyday moments to assert internal discord within the team as a fact, as well as the dissemination of so-called 'stock market rumors' that are not true, and the mocking and defamation of players through deepfake videos. It pointed out that the level of criticism has crossed the line, with personal attacks and demands for players' expulsion even reaching their personal social media accounts and club pages.
In particular, the Association took a strong stance against false information that misuses its videos and photos. It emphasized, "We will take strict action against those who unlawfully use videos and photos that fall under the intellectual property rights of the Korean Football Association to disseminate false and distorted information and gain unfair advantages."
The Association requested caution regarding interpretations surrounding the team dynamics. It stated, "Each player may have different thoughts and opinions, and recognizing each other's differences and freely sharing opinions to find the best direction for the team is essential for building a healthy organization. We should avoid making hasty interpretations or speculations that judge the internal dynamics of the team and exacerbate conflicts."
Finally, the Football Association affirmed, "We must provide the necessary support for the players to focus entirely on their games. The Association takes this role and responsibility seriously and promises to ensure that the players can perform at their best in future matches."
Earlier that day, Lee Kang-in's management company, The Black Label, issued a statement and announced its firm response. It stated, "We have confirmed that unverified information regarding Lee Kang-in has been indiscriminately spreading online. The series of claims currently being discussed are unrelated to Lee Kang-in and are unfounded."
Additionally, it noted, "We are collecting data on posts and comments that constitute the dissemination of false information and defamation, and we will proceed with necessary legal actions depending on the situation."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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