▲ The referee shows a red card to Incheon's Kim Keon-hee (No. 4).
The Korea Football Association (KFA) Referee Committee has concluded that both the red card and the own goal issued to Incheon United during their K League 1 match against FC Seoul were correct decisions.
In a refereeing briefing document released on the 9th, the association announced the referee committee's judgments, based on the laws of the game, regarding the sending-off of Incheon's Kim Keon-hee and Lee Ju-yong's own goal during the Hana Bank K League 1 2026 Round 27 match between Seoul and Incheon held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 5th (Seoul won 1-0).
The referee committee first ruled as correct the decision to penalize Incheon defender Kim Keon-hee with a red card after he brought down opposing forward Klimala while attempting to thwart Seoul's counterattack in the 3rd minute of the first half.
At the time, the referee judged Kim Keon-hee's physical contact to be the denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, issuing a red card and awarding a direct free kick to Seoul.
Regarding this, the referee committee explained based on the laws of the game, "At the time of the foul, the attacking player was able to control and progress the ball toward the goal, and it was a distance where opposing defenders could hardly intervene," adding, "When challenging from behind an opponent, the challenge is undertaken at the player's own risk, and if physical contact occurs, all responsibility lies with the challenging player."
It continued, "It is confirmed that Klimala's trailing leg made contact with Kim Keon-hee's knee, hindering his play," and stated, "Accordingly, the referee's decision to award a direct free kick to Seoul and issue a red card to Kim Keon-hee was an appropriate and correct decision."
The second incident was Lee Ju-yong's own goal in the 16th minute of the second half.
At the time, Jung Seung-won was in an offside position when Seoul's Moon Seon-min delivered a cross, and Lee Seung-mo subsequently played the ball toward the goal, leading to Lee Ju-yong's own goal.
The referee recognized Seoul's goal, judging that although Jung Seung-won was in an offside position, he did not interfere with or impede the opponent defender's play.
The referee committee also concluded that the referee's decision complied with the laws of the game, stating, "Jung Seung-won's movement and actions cannot be seen as having had a direct or clear impact on Lee Ju-yong's physical and tactical ability to deal with the ball," and adding, "Furthermore, from the moment Lee Seung-mo played the ball, a new phase of play unfolded, and at this point, Jung Seung-won was not in an offside position."
(Photo provided by Korea Professional Football League, Yonhap News)
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