Im O-kyung, a member of the National Assembly's Cultural, Sports and Tourism Committee, announced on July 10 that he has withdrawn the request for players to serve as witnesses in the hearing regarding the Korea Football Association (KFA).
In a Facebook post, Im stated, "Considering the opinions of the party and the players' match schedules and positions, I made this decision." He added, "The request for players to testify was not intended to burden them, but to create a better hearing for the development of Korean football." He emphasized that the hearing should not be a one-sided affair.
Im also highlighted that the public desires a more transparent and fair operation of the Football Association, aiming for a system that restores trust in Korean football.
He expressed his commitment to preparing well for the hearing on July 22, stating, "I hope that Korean football, which receives the most passionate love from the public, can emerge even more splendidly in four years."
Meanwhile, the Cultural Committee had approved the hearing the previous day to review the KFA's process for selecting the national team coach, finalizing a list of 13 witnesses and 10 reference persons. Son Heung-min was included in the list of reference persons requested by Im. Former coach Hong Myung-bo, who had been rumored to be avoiding the hearing by traveling to the United States, has stated he will attend.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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