According to AFP, South Korean police recently searched the headquarters of the Korea Football Association to investigate whether there were any irregularities in the appointment process of former South Korean national team coach Hong Myung-bo.
South Korean police announced on Thursday that they had searched the offices of the Korea Football Association in an investigation into the appointment criteria for the national team's head coach, who was eliminated in the group stage of the World Cup.
A police spokesperson told AFP that police conducted a "search and seizure" at the Korea Football Association's offices. Police are also investigating whether there was any "obstruction of business" during Hong Myung-bo's 2024 appointment process, meaning whether the appointment procedure was improperly interfered with.
According to local media reports, authorities are attempting to determine whether senior officials at the Korea Football Association improperly interfered in his appointment and may have violated organizational regulations. AFP contacted the Korea Football Association, but the association declined to comment.
Hong Myung-bo takes "full responsibility" for being eliminated.
Hong Myung-bo, 57, ended his second term as head coach of the South Korean national team at the end of June. As head coach, he once again experienced a humiliating World Cup defeat, just like in the 2014 World Cup. At the end of July, Hong attended a National Assembly committee meeting and stated that he took "full responsibility" for the team's elimination.
In a statement, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung blamed the failure on “incompetent people” who were promoted to management positions and implied “nepotism” in the recruitment of senior officials for the sport.
