[Anchor]

We previously reported on a high school soccer tournament where some schools were handed forfeit losses after protesting the organizers' flawed tournament bracket draw. The Sports Ethics Center has received a report on the incident and initiated investigation procedures.

This is an exclusive report by Reporter Hong Seok-jun.

[Reporter]

The Sports Ethics Center received a report today (July 24) regarding the incident where the round-of-18 tournament bracket draw for a high school competition—crucial for college admissions next year—was conducted improperly, followed by some schools that protested receiving forfeit losses.

According to the report obtained by SBS, the complainant pointed out procedural issues, noting that the teams' consent was not obtained when re-drawing became necessary due to flaws in the initial round-of-18 tournament draw. The report also requested an investigation, pointing out that unfair tournament operations occurred when the event organizers broke their promise to hold a third full re-draw and instead processed some schools as forfeit losses.

Having received the report, the Ethics Center will soon launch an official investigation.

Meanwhile, the controversy is growing over the communication process by the Jecheon City Football Association, which hosted the tournament, as it appeared to mislead parents.

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

[Jecheon City Football Association President: Yes, for now, we will also (withdraw them).]

[Parent: You mean you are drawing the bracket again?]

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

[Parent: That is what we wanted.]

However, the next day, the organizers neither conducted a third full re-draw nor reversed the forfeit losses.

[Parent: It is devastating. Why does only the football Association act like 'once a decision is made, that is it'?]

In response, the Jecheon City Football Association effectively admitted to making false improvisational statements, stating, "Promising to reverse the forfeit losses and conduct a full re-draw was the only means to prevent safety accidents."

(Video by Yoo Dong-hyuk | Video Editing by Hwang Ji-young | Design by Choi Jae-young | Footage provided by Sports-G)