“There was no war of words between Kim Min-jae and the audience… the method and place of expression were disappointing”
The national soccer team supporters, the Red Devils, revealed their position that the confrontation with defender Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich) was a misunderstanding and that the boos were directed at the Korea Football Association and coach Hong Myung-bo.
The Red Devils announced on the 6th through their official social media (SNS), “From the moment the Red Devils were born until now, we have been with the players at every moment, and at no moment have we cheered them on, hoping they would ‘lose’ or ‘hope they would not do well.’”
After a 0-0 draw against Palestine in the first Group B match of the 2026 North & Central America World Cup Asian 3rd qualifying round held at Seoul World Cup Stadium the previous day, Kim Min-jae walked to the stands and gestured to the home fans to exercise self-restraint.
Kim Min-jae then met with reporters at the mixed zone and said, “Everyone is taking it seriously, but I told them that I wish they would just cheer on the players.”
While doing so, he said, “There are people who come to my SNS and distort things and say things like that, but we didn’t do badly from the beginning,” and added, “It was a shame to cheer for them and hope they wouldn’t do badly.”
On this day, coach Hong Myung-bo expressed his regret over the boos that poured in every time he entered the stands.
The Red Devils explained Kim Min-jae’s remarks by saying, “(Kim Min-jae) came to the home cheering section and left after saying a short message, ‘Please cheer us on. Please.'” and “there was no argument between the players and the spectators.”
He also added, “Kim Min-jae, who desperately wanted to win, seemed to have done so out of regret for not getting a good result and due to a misunderstanding. However, the method and place of expression are very regrettable.”
The Red Devils claimed that the boos against Palestine were directed at the Korea Football Association and coach Hong Myung-bo, not the players.
The Red Devils said, “The stadium is the best place to raise our voices and draw attention to the Korea Football Association’s unfair and irrational behavior over the past few months,” adding, “We protested and jeered at the association, which has been consistent in lying, and the coach, who has betrayed his own beliefs.”
He emphasized, “If the association truly cares about the players and the Korean people, it must respond.”
He also asked soccer fans to “change their criticism and condemnation of the players into voices of support.”
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2024-09-07 04:47:34