Referee Council Controversy Over Racism of Foreign Coaches in Jeonbuk...Anti-human rights acts, calls for swift action
Nov 12, 2025
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The Korean Professional Football Judgment Council issued a statement on the 12th, saying it will file a complaint with FIFA, saying, `Jeonbuk coach Thanos made racist remarks and disparaging remarks against referee Kim Woo-sung.'
The referee council claims that coach Thanos tore his eyes at the referee who watched the referee in the second half of the match against Jeonbuk and Daejeon Hana Citizen's K League 1 2025 held at Jeonju World Cup Stadium on the 8th.
The Judgment Council said that the act done to the referee clearly violated FIFA disciplinary regulations and the ethics regulations of the Korea Football Association, and that the words and actions based on the race, origin, appearance, etc. of the referee cannot be justified for any reason. This is a direct violation of the safety and dignity of all referees and a serious incident that damages the value and international trust of Korean professional football. Racist acts are anti-human rights acts that FIFA wants to eradicate first. Accordingly, the Korea Professional Federation and the Korea Football Association demanded that they take strict and prompt action by deeply recognizing the seriousness of this case. It also announced its intention to file a complaint with related organizations such as FIFA.
In the 48th minute of extra time in the second half, when Jeonbuk led 2-1 in the match, the referee in charge of the match headed in front of the Jeonbuk bench with the game paused. Earlier, he offered a yellow card to coach Thanos, who complained about Daejeon midfielder Kim Bong-soo's suspected handball in the penalty box. Coach Thanos appealed that it was a 'handball foul" with a gesture of hitting the opposite arm with his right palm while looking at the stands behind the bench while the referee watched the on-field video of the foul scene. He also seemed to attract fans' response by waving his arms up and down. The referee ordered coach Thanos to leave after declaring the penalty kick, believing that he did not stop protesting. Coach Thanos, excited about this, ran out to the technical area and protested fiercely again. The judges are confident that coach Thanos' specific behavior in this section corresponds to Asian racism. Coach Thanos looked at the referee and seemed to put his index fingers on both sides of his face. In response, referee Kim stopped his way back to the stadium and put his index finger under his eyes and delivered 'Lasism' (racism) through a Jeonbuk interpreter. Eye tearing is considered a representative act of racism that disparages the small eyes of Asians.
Meanwhile, the Professional Federation, which identified the case through the referee's report, the match supervisor's report submitted on the 10th, and the fact-check written by the referee, demanded Jeonbuk submit a report. The deadline for submission is the 13th. If the professional federation considers the opinions of both sides comprehensively and deems it necessary, a reward and punishment committee will be held.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
