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The Korean Professional Football Association has issued a warning to K League 2 club Chungnam Asan FC without disciplinary action.
The KFA announced on Friday that it has issued a warning to Chungnam Asan FC in connection with election campaigning activities near the stadium during the club's home opening round against Bucheon FC on April 9.
On that day, election officials from four political parties campaigned at the Yi Sunshin Stadium ahead of the April general election.
According to the incident report submitted by Chungnam Asan, the campaigners solicited spectators at the stadium's entrance gate. The club mobilized security personnel to move them to the outskirts of the stadium.
Political activity in stadiums is prohibited under FIFA's Code of Ethics. However, the federation has called for a warning and a prevention of recurrence, given that the club mobilized security personnel to move the campaigners outside the stadium.
It also took a stand on another controversy.
On the same day, the federation deemed the red jerseys worn by Chungnam Asan to be "not a reason for discipline". "The red jerseys were approved in advance and registered according to the procedure," the federation said. There may be different interpretations of not wearing the home uniform, but we cannot impose disciplinary action."
Here's how the color of the jerseys sparked political controversy and suspicion.
On September 9, Chungnam Asan FC wore a red jersey in an 토토사이트 unusual move. It's not common for a team to wear a third jersey in a home game unless the color of the jersey overlaps with the opponent.
With the general election less than a month away, the choice of red jerseys, which are often associated with a particular political party, raised suspicions of a political agenda. At the stadium, Chungnam Governor Kim Tae-heum (honorary club owner) and Asan Mayor Park Kyung-gui (club owner), both members of the People's Power, wore red jerseys.
Supporters of Chungnam Asan displayed a protest banner (Football is not a tool of politics) when the club was asked to use red flags during the game. The incident escalated into a "political controversy" when some spectators attending the opening round raised suspicions on social media that the red jerseys, which are the color of national strength, were worn for election purposes ahead of the general election.
Lee Joon-il, president of Chungnam Asan, held a press conference on the 13th and said, "The red jerseys were meant to be worn in the spirit of the nation. There was no political intent or external pressure," but the controversy did not subside.
Governor Kim also held a press conference at the provincial office on the same day, saying, "I went because I was asked to give a congratulatory and encouraging speech as an honorary captain. I don't even know if the uniforms are red, blue, or yellow. I don't know how many fans associate the red jerseys with national strength. I didn't recognize it either. It's not a good idea to magnify and reproduce it," he said.
"They say it's political, but I've never been political in a manipulative way, and I don't know how much the red jerseys help the election. It's election season, so people are sensitive to it, but it's just people using it for political purposes."