Gwangju Is Overseas? There Is No Ground for Disciplinary Action for 'Online' Despite Blatant Hate Expression...a blind spot outside the stadium
Gwangju Is Overseas? There Is No Ground for Disciplinary Action for 'Online' Despite Blatant Hate Expression...a blind spot outside the stadium
Blog Article
It is an expression of hatred that is obvious and blatant. However, the Korean Professional Football League has no basis for disciplinary action.
Ultras Levante, a prestigious Pohang Steelers supporter group with K-League tradition, posted a post on its official Instagram story that included "Overseas Away Eve" and "passing overseas immigration" ahead of the away game against Gwangju FC on the 22nd.
To refer to Gwangju as a foreign country is an expression used by the far-right community to disparage it. It is hard to simply regard it as a joke or a deviation.
As the post was spread online, not only Gwangju but also the entire K-League are pointing fingers at Pohang supporters. Calls for their disciplinary action are also growing.
There is no basis for disciplinary action despite the use of expressions of hatred and demeaning beyond doubt. "As reviewed by the legal team, the federation cannot discipline the club due to the activities of fans or supporters conducted online outside the stadium. It is possible for any player or club official, but there will be no sanctions as fan's actions are a problem this time," a source at the Korea Professional Federation said.
If this expression was used inside the stadium, Pohang would have been disciplined. According to the regulation on reward and punishment for professional league players, if religious discrimination, political and racist acts are committed by spectators entering the stadium, the court can impose disciplinary punishment including reduction of five points or more, home games without spectators, penalty of 10 million won (8,400 U.S. dollars) or more, and warning. It clearly fits the latest issue.
"If it's an expression that's made in the stadium, the grounds for disciplinary action seem relatively clear," a source at the Korea Professional Federation said. "The federation cannot discipline (in this case), but I think the club can move in any way on its own. It is a matter that must be resolved by the club after all."
The Gwangju club is demanding an apology, investigation, and measures to prevent recurrence, along with a permanent ban on those involved from entering the Gwangju game.
The Pohang club is at a loss. It recognizes that fans committed wrong acts, but, like the Korea Professional Federation, it has no basis for disciplinary action. As it is impossible to censor fans' online activities one by one, it is ambiguous to impose measures such as a ban on fans from entering the club. Eventually, the club expects to self-reflect and resolve the issue within the group of supporters.
Pohang supporter Marines said on the 24th, "We recognize that it is wrong without a single excuse. The Levante group, which caused the incident, will be kicked out of the core until the home game against Gwangju on May 18," in expressing his apology. The group has thus taken self-disciplinary measures against the organization in question by not focusing on the cheering section. 안전놀이터
There is no way to discipline fans who caused problems online in the future. As this incident has been publicized, fans and supporters should expect self-purification.