New Delhi: When the South Korean football team and former coach Hong Myung-bo returned to the country, they were greeted with boos and protests.
South Korea, one of Asia’s biggest teams, lost two matches and could not reach Round 32 of the FIFA World Cup currently held in the United States. According to FIFA stats, the South Korean men’s football team now ranks 25th.
Following their loss, manager Hong resigned on 28 June, but countrywide protests have occurred, with fans pointing out favouritism, the BBC reported.
Upon the team’s arrival at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport, accompanied by Hong, several football fans gathered outside and held banners reading, “Korean football is dead.”
“Give back salary”
Hong was a national hero in 2002, when, as captain, he led the team to the semi-finals. However, his return as head coach came as a massive disappointment after the team failed to win any matches.
When Hong was selected as coach, fans were left unhappy. The police had to deploy 160 personnel for the security of the returning team and coach after a series of death threats.
After losing against Mexico and South Africa, the team failed to be one of the best third-placed teams in the group.
Outside the airport, fans held posters saying, “Coach Hong Myung Bo give back your salary and leave”.The police had to create a separate path from the terminal to the team’s bus. They even beat drums and booed him.
The hate also reached different stores and restaurants in South Korea. Outside a gym, a sign was put up reading, “Only Hong Myung-bo Prohibited”.
A doughnut outlet in Seoul held a sign saying, “ Hong Myung Bo, No entry into the store.”
In one video circulating on social media, angry and frustrated fans were seen shouting abuses at the South Korean squad as goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo and Lee Kang-in arrived alongside coach Hong.
In another video, Lee was seen staring at the fans hurling at the coach as Jo leads him to the bus.
But the tone changed as more players walked out of the airport.
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Captain steps in
South Korean captain Son Heung-min wrote an open letter in Korean on Instagram urging fans not to direct their anger at the players following the team’s exit.
An excerpt from the letter, translated from Korean, read: “Rather than directing excessive criticism and hurt towards all of the players, I sincerely ask that you continue to send them your warm support and encouragement, even though I know this is incredibly difficult.”
In his letter, he apologised to the fans and promised to keep working hard. Song was seen signing autographs even before leaving Mexico on 30 June.
The team’s captain was left on the bench for the opening half in the match against South Africa. When Song returned in the late hours of Tuesday, fans gathered at the airport to welcome him, shouting, “Good work.”
After videos of angry fans landed on social media, people criticised the fans for lacking sportsmanship.
“South Koreans don’t play about crucifying someone to the point of suicide,” read one post.
Another user called South Korean fans a “disgrace to football society”.
“They woke at midnight, went to the airport at 4 AM to cuss the players and bully them. This behaviour is normalised in SK culture, not even their fans but it makes sense now the way they treated their biggest celebrity,” the tweet read.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)