Sports Ethics Center Launches Investigation Into High School Soccer Tournament Chaos Over Re-drawn Lots and Forfeit Losses

[Anchor]

As we previously reported, some high schools suffered forfeit losses after protesting the organizers' flawed tournament bracket draw at a high school soccer tournament. The Sports Ethics Center has received a report on the incident and initiated investigation procedures.

This is an exclusive report by Hong Seok-jun.

[Reporter]

The Sports Ethics Center received a report today (July 24) regarding the incident where the 18th-round tournament bracket draw—crucial for next year's college admissions—was handled poorly, followed by some of the protesting schools being given forfeit losses.

According to the report obtained by SBS, the complainant requested an investigation, pointing out procedural flaws in failing to obtain consent from the teams when a re-draw became necessary after the initial 18th-round tournament draw was botched. The report also criticized the unfair operation, noting that the tournament organizers went back on their promise to hold a third full re-draw and instead handed down forfeit losses to certain schools.

Upon receiving the report, the Ethics Center will promptly launch an official investigation.

Meanwhile, controversy is growing over the Jecheon City Football Association's communication process, which appeared to deceive parents.

[Parent: The forfeit losses are invalid, right?]

[President of Jecheon City Football Association: Yes, for now, I will also withdraw them.]

[Parent: You mean you are going to draw the tournament bracket again?]

[President of Jecheon City Football Association: Yes, we will make that happen now.]

[Parent: That is what we wanted.]

However, the next day, the organizers did not conduct a third full re-draw, nor did they overturn the forfeit losses.

[Parent: To say things like, "Once a decision is made, that is it"—why is it only the Football Association that operates this way? It is truly heartbreaking.]

In response, the Jecheon City Football Association virtually admitted to improvising with lies, stating, "Promising to overturn the forfeit losses and conduct a full re-draw was the only means to prevent a safety accident."

(Video by Yoo Dong-hyuk | Video Editing by Hwang Ji-young | Design by Choi Jae-young | Video Courtesy of Sports-G)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.