Why did the police raid the South Korean Football Association?

Due to suspicions of obstruction of business and financial crime during the appointment process of former head coach Hong Myung-bo in 2024.

What does Zlatko Dalić have to do with this story?

After Myung-bo's resignation, Dalić was one of the options for the new coach, but he declined the offer and took over the United Arab Emirates national team.

How did South Korea perform at the last World Cup?

They were eliminated in the group stage. They recorded a victory over the Czech Republic (2:1), but then lost to South Africa and Mexico.

Football

Police Raid South Korean Football Association: Investigation into Coach Appointment

A.P. · Prije 2h | 2 min

Following World Cup elimination and Hong Myung-bo's departure, authorities investigate suspicious circumstances surrounding his hiring in 2024.

Summary

Police in Seoul conducted searches at the South Korean Football Association over suspected irregularities in the appointment of Hong Myung-bo in 2024.
Hong Myung-bo resigned after the group-stage exit at the World Cup, and among the candidates for his successor was Zlatko Dalić, who declined the offer.
The investigation covers suspicions of obstruction of business and financial crime, with alleged violations of the Association's internal rules.

Police in South Korea have launched an investigation and conducted searches at the offices of the country's football association, focusing on the appointment process of former head coach Hong Myung-bo. The news, reported by the Daily Mail, comes amid a shake-up on the national team's bench after a disappointing World Cup performance, with Zlatko Dalić also playing a role in the story.

The South Korean national team, known as the "Tigers," arrived at the World Cup with high ambitions. They opened the tournament with a 2:1 victory over the Czech Republic, but subsequent losses to South Africa and Mexico meant elimination in the group stage. The failure sparked immense public pressure, including criticism from President Lee Jae-myung, after which Hong Myung-bo resigned as head coach.

Dalić Declined the Offer, Association Rocked by Drama

In search of a new solution, the South Korean Football Association saw Zlatko Dalić, the former Croatian coach, as one of the options. However, Dalić declined the offer and decided to continue his coaching career in the United Arab Emirates. It was precisely after his refusal that the association was rocked by a major drama in the form of a police investigation.

Searches and Suspicions of Financial Crime

As a police spokesperson for the capital Seoul told AFP, "police conducted searches and seizures at the Association's offices due to suspicions of obstruction of business during the appointment process of former coach Hong Myung-bo." He added that "financial crime" is also being investigated.

The investigation dates back to 2024, when Myung-bo was initially appointed to the coaching position. Local media report that authorities are examining whether senior association officials improperly influenced that appointment, allegedly violating the organization's own internal rules.