The Korean national soccer team will be burdened with five warnings in the match against Bahrain, the first match of the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Qatar Asian Cup. Coincidentally, they met Bahrain in the first match in Qatar 13 years ago, and there were even exits amid dubious decisions at the time.
The South Korean national soccer team, led by head coach Jurgen Klinsmann, beat Bahrain 3-1 in the first Group E match of the 2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup at Jasim bin Hamad Stadium in Doha, Qatar on the 15th (Korea time).
They won the game, but five Korean players were given yellow cards. Chinese referee Marning took out yellow cards to Son Heung-min (Tottenham) and Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), who are the core players of the Clinsman team’s offense and defense, as well as Park Yong-woo (Al-Ain), Lee Ki-je (Suwon), and Cho Kyu-sung (Mitt Whelan).
If they receive additional warnings in the remaining matches, they will be banned from participating in the following matches due to accumulation of warnings. As a result, management of warnings is on alert. At the 2011 Qatar Asian Cup, which was held 13 years ago in the same venue, the opponent team in the first round match was Bahrain, and the Korean team was in trouble due to refereeing decisions.
Abdullah Al Hilali of Oman, a Middle Eastern country like Bahrain, repeatedly made dubious decisions like Marning did. Hilali frequently cheated by Korean players but did not restrain Bahrain’s rough plays. He made a flurry of rough tackles targeting the ankles and thighs of Korean captain Park Ji-sung.
Park Ji-sung collapsed several times throughout the first and second half due to intensive checks by Bahraini defenders, but referee Hilali did not take out the yellow card. The only scene in which referee Oman warned Bahraini player came when Bahraini Fauji Aish rebelled against his decision. 토토사이트 추천
Despite the 2-1 win, Korea was left swayed by refereeing decisions. Central defender Lee Jung-soo was given a warning for delaying the game midway through the second half. His central defender partner Kwak Tae-hwi was shown a red card without a warning while blocking the opponent striker in the 38th minute of the second half. Kwak Tae-hwi tried to stop Abdullah Al-Dakil from breaking through and fell together in the penalty box, which Hilali immediately kicked Kwak off with the penalty kick. Kwak vehemently protested against the difficult decision, but it was not accepted.
After passing the match against Bahrain with difficulty, Korea passed the group stage and advanced to the semifinals, but failed to advance to the final after losing to Japan. Throughout the entire tournament, including the match against Japan in the semifinals, Korea had to face difficulties as it faced dubious decisions several times. Attention is focusing on whether the Clinsman team, which played its first match in Qatar in 13 years, will be able to overcome difficulties and move closer to winning the title.
