Korean pro football adopts rule on fine dust

South Korea's pro football governing body on Friday approved a rule on fine dust to protect the players and fans from bad air quality.The K League said its board members approved a rule that allow match officials to cancel matches when fine dust advisories are issued. According to the rule, if fine dust advisories are issued in between three hours prior to the match starting time and the match end time, the match commissioner can call off or postpone the match.In South Korea, a fine dust warning

April 20, 2018

S. Korea open U-19 football tournament with win vs. Morocco

South Korea's under-19 national football team opened an international tournament at home with a 1-0 win over Morocco on Wednesday.South Korea beat 10-man Morocco in their opening match at the 2018 Suwon JS Cup at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, thanks to a goal by Kim Hyun-woo.The JS Cup is an international men's under-19 football tournament that features four nations. This year's competition pits South Korea against Morocco, Mexico and Vietnam.  South Korean under-19 nation

April 18, 2018

Football club CEO faces discipline after charging into referees' locker room

A second-division football club CEO is facing discipline after charging into a referees' locker room following a loss over the weekend.According to the K League, the operator of domestic professional football competitions, Kim Ho, CEO of Daejeon Citizen in the second-tier K League 2, entered the referees' room to complain about officiating during Daejeon's 2-1 loss to Asan Mugunghwa FC on Saturday. The match took place at Daejeon World Cup Stadium in Daejeon, some 160 kilometers south of Seoul.L

April 16, 2018

Korea women's football coach satisfied with draw vs. Japan at Asian Cup

South Korea women's football coach Yoon Duk-yeo said Wednesday he is satisfied with the result against Japan at the Asian Football Confederation Women's Asian Cup. Yoon's side played to a scoreless draw with defending champions Japan in their Group B match at Amman International Stadium in Amman, Jordan, on Tuesday (local time). "We didn't earn a bad result against a good team like Japan," Yoon said. "Although we collected a draw, I think it provided us an opportunity to grow." South Korea women

April 11, 2018

Korea open Women's Asian Cup with 0-0 draw vs. Australia

The South Korea women's national football team has opened its first match against Australia at the continental tournament with a draw. South Korea, 16th in the latest FIFA rankings, played to a scoreless draw with world's sixth-ranked Australia at King Abdullah II Stadium in Amman, Jordan, on Saturday (local time) in their Group B opening match at the Asian Football Confederation Women's Asian Cup. The 2019 AFC Women's Asian Cup doubles as the final Asian qualification for the 2019 World Cup in

April 8, 2018

Ulsan, Jeonbuk secure AFC Champions League knockout berths

South Korean football clubs Ulsan Hyundai FC and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors secured their knockout stage places in the Asian Football Confederation Champions League on Wednesday. Ulsan confirmed their round of 16 presence by beating Melbourne Victory 6-2, while Jeonbuk earned the pass following their 2-0 win over Kashiwa Reysol. Ulsan Hyundai FC players celebrate after scoring their sixth goal against Melbourne Victory in their AFC Champions League Group F match at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan on

April 4, 2018

Newly promoted club surprises football fans with early lead in Korean league

Newly promoted club Gyeongnam FC are creating a sensation early as they find themselves atop the top South Korean football league standings. Gyeongnam, led by head coach Kim Jong-boo, notched their fourth-straight win to start the 2018 season in the K League 1 after beating Gangwon FC, 3-1, Sunday on the road. Kim's side is the only one among the 12 K League 1 teams with a perfect record after four matches. Kim previously said his side's goal is to survive in the K League 1. Although there are s

April 2, 2018

811 players registered for 2018 S. Korean pro football league

A total of 811 players will be eligible to play in South Korea's pro football leagues this year, its operator said Friday. The K League said that 442 players registered for the top-tier K League 1 and 369 for the second division K League 2 this season. The player registration for the 2018 season ended Thursday. There are 12 clubs in the K League 1 and 10 clubs in the K League 2. Daegu FC had the most players among K League 1 clubs with 44 players, while military football club Sangju Sangmu only

March 30, 2018

With his 1st int'l goal, S. Korean midfielder eyes World Cup selection

INCHEON -- South Korean midfielder Lee Chang-min said Thursday he'll keep working hard to be part of the World Cup squad after scoring his first international goal in a friendly football match against Poland.Lee, who plays with Jeju United in the K League 1, earned his first goal for South Korea at Silesian Stadium in Chorzow, Poland, on Tuesday when his right-footed strike from the penalty arc found the net in the 85th minute. With his goal, South Korea cut the deficit to one and later got an e

March 29, 2018

Football coach says friendlies in Europe boosted S. Korea's World Cup preparations

South Korea men's national football team head coach Shin Tae-yong said Thursday that its two recent friendly matches in Europe have boosted their preparations for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.Shin returned home after suffering consecutive defeats in their World Cup warmup matches against European opponents. South Korea fell 2-1 to Northern Ireland last Saturday and lost 3-2 to Poland three days later.Despite the losses, Shin claimed that the two matches gave them a big help for their World Cup prepar

March 29, 2018

Son Heung-min says S. Korea need better efforts for World Cup

CHORZOW -- South Korean forward Son Heung-min believes that the national team needs to make better efforts after suffering two friendly losses in Europe in the runup to the World Cup.South Korea fell 3-2 to Poland in their friendly match at Silesian Stadium in Chorzow, Poland, on Tuesday. It was their second straight defeat following a 2-1 loss to Northern Ireland in Belfast last Saturday.Against Poland, South Korea leveled the score from two goals down but surrendered the winner to Piotr Zielin

March 28, 2018

Korea women's football coach vows to grab 2019 World Cup ticket

PAJU -- South Korean women's football coach Yoon Duk-yeo said Tuesday his side is determined to grab a ticket to the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup.Yoon's team will depart for Jordan on Thursday to compete in the 2018 Asian Football Confederation Women's Asian Cup that will be held from April 6 to 20. The competition will double as the final Asian qualifier for the 2019 World Cup in France, with the top five nations qualifying for the showpiece event of women's football.Yoon already unveiled his 23

March 27, 2018

Son Heung-min vows to overcome opponents' tight marking in int'l football

CHORZOW, Poland -- South Korean attacking ace Son Heung-min will be the primary target for opponents when he is on international duty, but the Tottenham Hotspur man has claimed that he is ready to overcome tough challenges. Son, who has netted 18 goals for Spurs this season, is one of the 23 players who have been called up for South Korea's friendly matches against Northern Ireland and Poland. South Korea suffered a 2-1 loss to Northern Ireland on Friday and are scheduled to face Poland on Tuesd

March 27, 2018

S. Korean football coach hints at changes for friendly vs. Poland

CHORZOW -- South Korea national football team head coach Shin Tae-yong has hinted at changes for the friendly against Poland.South Korea, ranked 59th in the latest FIFA rankings, will face No. 6 Poland at Silesian Stadium in Chorzow, Poland. The match will start at 8:45 p.m. Tuesday (Poland time) or 3:45 a.m. Wednesday (Seoul time).Shin on Monday said there could be a possible change of players and tactics for the upcoming match but didn't unveil details. The 48-year-old coach brought 23 players

March 27, 2018

Korean footballers vow to perform better vs. Poland

Chorzow, Poland -- After suffering a painful defeat against Northern Ireland, South Korean national football team players said that they are ready to perform better against Poland. South Korea, No. 59 in the latest FIFA rankings, will take on sixth-ranked Poland at Silesian Stadium in Chorzow on Tuesday. This is South Korea's second friendly this month after they fell 2-1 to Northern Ireland on Saturday. South Korea, led by head coach Shin Tae-yong, began their first training in Chorzow on Sunda

March 26, 2018

S. Korean football coach laments wasting chances vs. Northern Ireland

South Korean football coach Shin Tae-yong lamented his side's 2-1 defeat to Northern Ireland in international friendly on Saturday, saying their failure to convert chances prompted the result. Shin's side scored first at Windsor Park in Belfast, with Kwon Chang-hoon's goal coming just seven minutes after the kick off, but Kim Min-jae's own goal in the 20th and Paul Smyth's winner in the 86th brought South Korea down.This was South Korea's first defeat this year after collecting two wins and one

March 25, 2018

S. Korea fall 2-1 to Northern Ireland in football friendly

South Korea lost 2-1 to Northern Ireland in international friendly football match here on Saturday. Northern Ireland's second half substitute Paul Smyth scored the late winner at Windsor Park in Belfast to defeat South Korea. It was South Korea's first loss this year. The match was one of the two friendly matches before South Korea announce their final roster for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in May. The men's national team will face Poland on Tuesday.South Korea, led by head coach Shin Tae-yong, are

March 25, 2018

Korean football coach mulls over options for Son Heung-min

DUBLIN -- South Korean men's national football team head coach Shin Tae-yong said Thursday he is still mulling over his options for Tottenham Hotspur attacker Son Heung-min in the upcoming friendly matches.South Korea will take on Northern Ireland in Belfast on Saturday before they visit Poland on Tuesday. The two friendly matches are likely to be South Korea's last test before they announce the final roster for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Shin said he has yet to decide whether he should

March 23, 2018

Korea unveils new kit for 2018 FIFA World Cup

South Korea unveiled Thursday their 2018 FIFA World Cup kit for the tourney in Russia.South Korea's World Cup kit is inspired by the national flag Taegeukgi and "hallyu," which refers to the Korean Wave of popular culture, according to Nike, the US-based global sportswear brand that designed the uniform. Newly-designed outfits will be worn by all age groups of the men's and the women's national football teams. Nike said South Korea's home jersey features a classic look composed of a red shirt, b

March 22, 2018

Korean forward vows to utilize European experience for nat'l football team

DUBLIN -- Red Bull Salzburg's South Korean forward Hwang Hee-chan said Tuesday in Dublin that he will try to utilize his experience with the Austrian club to help the men's national football team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.Hwang has scored 11 goals in 29 matches this season for Salzburg. Although he suffered a thigh injury in the middle of the season, his aggressive play on the pitch has helped Salzburg stay atop the league and reach the UEFA Europe League quarterfinals. "I learned lots of thing

March 21, 2018