'Ruling Controversy' Addressed After Three Days... "Only One Wrong Decision"

[Anchor]

Over the weekend, three separate refereeing controversies erupted during the professional football match between Suwon and Cheongju. The Korea Football Association has released its official stance after three days. While apologizing and admitting that one incident was a wrong decision, the association maintained that there were no faults in the other two cases, including the most controversial cancellation of the comeback goal.

Reporter Ha Seong-nyong has the details.

[Reporter]

In the 12th minute of the second half, with Suwon trailing 2-0, Hais was struck in the face by a Cheongju player inside the penalty box, but no foul was called.

Following two days of discussions, the Korea Football Association Referee Assessment Committee acknowledged that this scene was indeed a wrong decision and issued an apology.

The association stated, "The referee's failure to recognize the contact and the Video Assistant Referee's judgment that it was a natural movement were incorrect," adding that a warning and a penalty kick should have been awarded.

On the other hand, the association maintains that the remaining two decisions were correct.

In the first minute of stoppage time in the second half, the ball hit a Cheongju defender's arm, but no handball was called. The association stated this was a correct decision based on the rule that if a deflected ball touches the arm, it is not considered a handball. They also maintained that there was no problem with the cancellation of Suwon player Dubickas's potential comeback goal right before the end of the match—which sparked the biggest controversy—nor with the decision not to conduct a video review.

The association explained that although the referee initially recognized the goal, the fourth official pointed out a pushing foul, leading to the cancellation of the goal.

Football fans argued that the referee should have conducted an "on-field review" by checking the monitor when overturning the decision. However, the association countered that because the "goal cancellation," synthesized from the field officials' judgments, was the original decision, and the VAR official's opinion also concurred with the "goal cancellation," it did not meet the criteria for an on-field review.

Suwon stated that it has "decided not to issue an official statement" regarding the association's decision.

(Video Editing: Park Jung-sam, Design: Kang Yoon-jung)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.