SEOUL: A South Korean World Cup footballer was banned for life from the national team for submitting false documents for his military service exemption, the…
SEOUL: A South Korean World Cup footballer was banned for life from the national team for submitting false documents for his military service exemption, the Korea Football Association said on Thursday (Nov 1).
Defender Jang Hyun-soo plays for FC Tokyo and has 58 caps, including an appearance in the 2016 Olympics.
„This is to reinforce that anyone who stirs up controversy cannot join the national team,“ the KFA said, adding that the tough penalty was aimed at „preventing similar cases in the future“.
Jang will be permanently banned from playing for the country and fined 30 million won (US$26,000) for „tarnishing the dignity“ of the team, according to the association.
Nearly every able-bodied South Korean man aged 18 to 28 is required to complete 21 months of military service by law, but Olympic medal winners and Asian Games gold medallists are granted a special exemption.
