"Players Call Son Heung-min 'Number 7'?" National Football Team Discord Enters National Audit

Internal conflicts and leadership issues within the national football team have been brought to the table of the parliamentary national audit.

During the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee audit held today (October 21), People Power Party lawmaker Jung Yeon-wook pointed out the recent rumors of discord and leadership issues within the national team, criticizing the Korea Football Association for its bystander attitude.

Lawmaker Jung first asked Lee Yong-soo, Vice President of the Korea Football Association (acting president) who appeared as a witness, "Is it true that national team players have recently been calling (captain) Son Heung-min (LAFC) not by his name, but as 'Number 7' or 'that person'?" He added, "It makes me wonder if team chemistry among the players has become so uncomfortable that they hesitate to even mention his name directly."

He then presented an interview video of defender Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) and midfielder Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) following the national team's friendly match against Venezuela.

Kim Min-jae directly criticized the forward line's lack of defensive participation, while Hwang In-beom made remarks implying problems with team leadership.

Lawmaker Jung also mentioned the "national team retirement commotion" involving players born in 1996, such as Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-beom, and Hwang Hee-chan (Schalke 04), which occurred after the match against Uzbekistan, their final A-match.

In response, Vice President Lee said, "I received a brief report on the matter," but avoided a detailed explanation, stating, "Based on the principle that what happens in the locker room stays in the locker room, we gathered opinions to continue discussing it within the national team."

Lawmaker Jung then rebuked the association, stating, "Aren't the public fundamentally questioning how the KFA can exercise operational finesse regarding the national team, why such noises and conflicts keep repeating in the national team, and whether any incoming manager can salvage the collapsed leadership of our team?" He criticized the association's lukewarm attitude for fueling controversies and suspicions.

Vice President Lee stated, "It is my hope that the national team will unite a bit more, prepare for the November A-matches and the Asian Cup (opening in January next year) under interim manager Robert Moreno, and gradually improve."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.