Lion's Airport Roar
The Football Association's rebuttal statement and the Ministry of Culture's announcement on the Jordan match in the third round of North, Central, and South American qualifiers swept through Korea like a storm. Right on cue, the association posted a lengthy rebuttal on their homepage and official SNS.
Our association strongly regrets the mention of procedural flaws and the term "special treatment" in today's interim audit results from the Ministry of Culture and hereby clarifies the facts as follows.
Authority of Technical Director Lee Jinhak. At the final stage, the Power Enhancement Committee members acknowledged the limitations of committee operations and effectively agreed to delegate full recommendation authority to Director Lee Jinhak, who possesses technical expertise. This was an autonomous decision-making process within the corporation, and denying its validity solely because the term "technical director" is not explicitly stated in the bylaws is an overly formalistic interpretation.
Controversy over special treatment in Coach Yoon Seungwoo's appointment. Requiring PPTs from foreign candidates but not from Coach Yoon was not discrimination but a strategic judgment. Coach Yoon is a figure whose philosophy has already been proven through K League and national team coaching roles, and the late-night visit was merely a sincere persuasion effort by the association to secure a capable coach. The Ministry did not deem the appointment itself invalid. We acknowledge any procedural shortcomings and will supplement them further, but we ask that you refrain from framing technical judgments like coach appointments as unfair, which undermines the national team's momentum.
With the Ministry's interim announcement and the association's rebuttal out there, I was curious how the public was judging it.
I wasn't expecting rational judgment or a sudden shift in stance from the masses. Just genuinely curious how they were spinning it. Wondering about my take? Yeah right—who's gonna read that wall of text anyway? No one gives a shit.
In a black-and-white good-vs-evil setup, no more issues mattered. Eat American beef and your brain gets holes. The government selling and importing it is the problem; America overseeing it is the corrupt empire. Everyone's already stamped who the villain is—reexamine now? In Korea, emotions come first, victim's voice is evidence. Disagree? Tough shit.
Queen Alia International Airport, Amman, Jordan.
The airport looked like a warzone with reporters swarming for the Jordan-bound team. Still wiped from the Newcastle game, I pulled my black hood low, pushed my cart, and entered arrivals.
Dozens of flashes stabbed my eyes. Security tried clearing a path, but mics rained down uselessly.
"Ryu Rion! Seen the Ministry's interim audit?"
"How's the team vibe on the unfair Yoon appointment announcement?"
"Thoughts on the association's rebuttal?"
They weren't asking 'cause they didn't know my take. It was news. I scanned the reporters with tired eyes, ditched the hood, and bowed toward the mics.
"The Ministry? Yeah, heard about it."
Reporters' eyes lit up. I smirked faintly and continued.
"Like I said—no issues."
"Does that mean the Ministry's audit is unjust?"
"Not unjust. Just... don't mix politics with sports, and realize life doesn't run on strict letter-of-the-law bullshit."
Silence blanketed the lobby.
"So rules don't matter if not written?"
I sighed. "Big US tech firm hiring key talent? HR rules say paperwork, interviews, exec panel. But for real talent, CEO flies out, wining and dining with fat salary offers. Think HR vetoes with 'invalid, not at restaurant'?"
"Business treats recruitment as strategy—no problem. Coach hiring's headhunting, not public ad."
Reporters looked baffled, so I gave a live example.
"Think ER or disaster zones. Doc cuts open without full consent forms in emergency—problem?"
Some nodded.
"Reality check. Legally, documented consent's key, but life-or-death? Doc's call trumps rules."
"Was the association in crisis?"
"Think back. What, Pep Guardiola?"
Theory vs. practice differ big time. Can't regulate everything, so preemptive candidate offers are daily biz.
I ignored follow-ups, turned, and bailed. Shouts and shutters exploded behind me.
Ultimately, this mess tangled admin practice, political fairness, emotional mob rule—fact-free pissing contest.
Jordan match soon. Words enough. Prove it on the pitch.
Under Amman's scorching sun, the training pitch echoed with heavy breaths and leather smacking grass. Post-session cooldown, I stood in a triangle with captain Bong Hyeoksu and rookie Jinu, lightly passing.
Jinu said, "Jordan tape shows their form's way up though?"
I trapped his pass easy, rolled it to Bong.
"Not just them. Saudi, Qatar, Iraq... Middle East overall leveling up. Soccer's equalizing globally."
Bong controlled smoothly, nodded, adding vet insight.
"Right. Not like old days—no info gaps, coaches swap notes tons. Analysis sharper; even mid teams ape modern tactics now. That's why."
Bong's tone dead serious. Guy's character cracks me up—info so coldly analytical it's shocking. But I wasn't letting the mood stay heavy. I heel-flicked his pass back casual.
"Boomer take. Old days bullshit."
"...?"
Passes halted. Jinu panicked eyes; Bong glared dumbfounded.
"Boomer?"
"Era changed—feel it with your body. No need 'back in my day' analysis..."
"This little shit..."
Bong fake-laughed, then thwack—shin-kicked a ball at my leg.
"Ow!" Instinct lifted my foot, stopped it dead. Bong cackled, pointing.
"Reaction that quick? Try slacking a step tomorrow."
Then Tak Go-gang approached, mini-game done.