Officials who received bribes in exchange for players joining professional soccer clubs were brought to trial.

On the 13th, the 9th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office booked 11 people, including professional team and university leaders who received money and valuables in exchange for joining K1 and K2 league professional soccer teams from 2017 to 2023, and agents who gave money and valuables, for breach of trust and enrichment. It was announced that two people were detained and indicted, eight people were indicted without detention, and one person’s indictment was suspended.아톰카지노

Lee Jong-geol, former CEO of the K-League 2 Ansan Greeners, is accused of receiving Mercedes-Benz cars, Rolex watches, and cash worth 50 million won from players’ parents and agents in exchange for signing two players from last year to this year. Former CEO Lee is also accused of receiving 9 million won from former Ansan manager Im Jong-heon, who was arrested, in return for being appointed as manager.

In the process of investigating the Ansan Greeners’ corruption, the prosecution also indicted Choi Tae-wook, former national team coach, without detention. Coach Choi Tae-wook is being accused of breach of trust with his agent, Mr. Choi, who conspired in the process of handing money and valuables to the Ansan Greeners. Coach Choi Tae-wook is a member of the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup semifinals legend. Coach Choi Tae-wook, who played in 30 international matches and scored 4 goals, retired from active duty in 2014 and joined the national team coaching staff in 2018 and helped advance to the round of 16 of the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

The 9th Criminal Division of the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said, ‘The prosecution re-investigated the fraud case against the agent that was not forwarded by the police, including account tracing and search and seizure. As a result, leaders of professional teams and universities received personnel expenses and development funds from players joining the club. We confirmed the chronic evil of accepting money and valuables under the pretext of giving and receiving money, but dismissing this as a practice. It was revealed that the CEOs of some citizen clubs were tyrannizing the management of the clubs, such as accepting money or valuables by recruiting players unrelated to the club’s needs or receiving money or valuables in exchange for positions as club leaders.’

In addition, he said, ‘We will collect and preserve the profits from the defendants’ crimes, notify the Korea Football Association of the misconduct, and do our best to maintain the prosecution so that the defendants who treat player trading as a practice are punished commensurate with the crime.’ added.