Manager Slapping Player's Cheek: "Affection or Assault?" KFA Reaches Decision

Former national team coach Shin Tae-yong, who became the center of controversy over allegations that he assaulted players including Jung Seung-hyun while managing Ulsan HD last year, has received heavy disciplinary action from the Korea Football Association's Fairness Committee.

An official from the Korea Football Association stated, "A meeting of the Fairness Committee regarding coach Shin Tae-yong was held early this month, and the disciplinary action was recently communicated."

Although the Fairness Committee imposed heavy disciplinary action on the former coach, the association withheld specific details regarding whether the punishment involved suspension or expulsion, citing personal privacy.

An official from the football association explained, "We were only told that the details of the disciplinary action cannot be disclosed because they are sensitive personal information."

Coach Shin Tae-yong, who took the helm at Ulsan in August of last year, was dismissed about two months later in October.

Coach Shin pointed out that there were internal problems within the club through media interviews, but subsequent exposures emerged claiming that he had actually beaten and used insulting language against his players, and a video showing him striking defender Jung Seung-hyun on the cheek was also released.

After finishing the final match of last season, Jung Seung-hyun revealed, "Even if the person inflicting it thinks it is not assault or sexual violence, if the recipient considers it to be assault, then it is. Not only I, but other players share the same thought."

Subsequently, the football association launched an investigation into the "player assault controversy" in December of last year and issued disciplinary measures about eight months later.

Coach Shin Tae-yong was appointed as the head coach of the Indonesian professional club Persija Jakarta in June and is currently staying in Indonesia.

Because the disciplinary action is only effective domestically, it does not directly impact the local coaching activities of coach Shin, who is currently active in Indonesia.

Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Choi Kang-san | Graphics by Yang Hye-min | Produced by SBS Digital News
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.