The Korea Football Association referee committee held an evaluation subcommittee today (27th) and concluded by mistake about the process in which Seoul Palosevich’s score was not recognized just before the end of the Gangwon FC-FC Seoul match yesterday.

As a result, referee Chae Sang-hyeop, who was the referee for the game, was punished by not being assigned to the game this weekend.

An official from the Korea Football Association said, “We judged that it was a mistake for Kim Jin-ya’s holding foul decision and the video review (VAR) of the process in which the referee blew the whistle and reached Palosevich’s goal in accordance with the rules.” He explained that he would take administrative measures such as non-assignment of referee Chae Sang-hyeop and retraining.

The situation in question occurred just before the end when Gangwon were leading 3-2.

Seoul, which started the last attack, seemed to make a dramatic tie as Palosevic’s shot shook the net in the match before the goal, but the referee Chae Sang-hyeop blew a foul whistle just before the shot and did not recognize the goal.

In the previous aerial contest, Seo Min-woo fell near the left side of the goal area, and Kim Jin-ya judged that he had committed a foul by pulling Seo Min-woo with his hand. However, if you look at the broadcast video, it is confirmed that Seo Min-woo was not dragged by Kim Jin-ya’s hand, but tripped over by a Gangwon colleague’s foot.

In the soccer world, it is said that the referee should have watched the situation to the end and then conducted a video review (VAR). It was also judged by mistake.

As an incomprehensible verdict came out, Seoul, which could have earned 1 point if they had made a tie, lost the victory point and fell to 4th instead of 3rd.

The referee made a verbal apology to the Seoul club, but if this 1 victory point decides the championship at the end of the season안전놀이터, if it decides to participate in the Asian Champions League, if it decides Group A or Group B, in the worst case, relegation? Seoul has no way to be compensated.

Gangwon-do, which won thanks to a misjudgment, won a sweet victory in the opening 9 games, but the aftertaste is not clear, and I think it is the same for fans who visited the stadium or watched the broadcast.

The excuse that ‘referees are people’ no longer works with the introduction of VAR. If there is an ambiguous decision, you should carefully check it with VAR. It is a ‘minimum courtesy’ and fair device for the players who sweat for days before the game, the coach and other coaches who stay up all night preparing for the game, and the fans who visit the stadium and cheer loudly.

Even in the Premier League, referees and other referees sometimes make mistakes, but we watch every week as they carefully check the VAR every time they score. But why didn’t referee Chae Sang-hyeop do the same in the Gangwon-Seoul game? The question remains as to why several mistakes were made at once in a crucial scene.

One of the things I’ve felt while covering the K-League for a considerable period of time is that whenever there is an error, the clubs are ‘victims’, but in most cases they can’t even ‘squeak’ towards the referees. It is because of the concern that if you file a complaint, you will receive a ‘disadvantage’ later. It is read as an experiential learning. It is a worldwide regulation, but it is widely known that the K-League is also subject to fines if managers and players complain about the judgment after the game. It must be a device to save the authority of the referee, but it also means that the referee must establish his own authority by making a fair and accurate judgment.

As the media’s pointed out continues, the Korea Football Association, which took over the operation of the K-League referees in the last 2020 years, will have to use its power in referee education and fulfill its responsibilities as a highly neutral and responsible organization. Referees become ‘hands in control of the game’, although unintentionally, when they see such a mistake, and they often hide behind the face of post-processing. You will be able to gain trust by providing thorough education on referees, and when a problem arises, do not go overboard and apologize honestly.

Even if you do well a hundred times, if you make a mistake once, you will be criticized. We will have to accept this case as such. I ask all referees to have the mindset that referees, like players or coaches, judge with their own names.