FC Barcelona is reportedly seeking to visit Korea for the first time in 14 years since 2010. Barcelo..
FC Barcelona is reportedly seeking to visit Korea for the first time in 14 years since 2010. Barcelona wants to play a friendly match against FC Seoul at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in late May.
A broadcaster wants to make it happen. This broadcaster is a comprehensive programming channel with experience in soccer broadcasting.
It’s a problem that has nothing to worry about. K-League clubs, including Seoul, cannot play friendly matches even if Barcelona visits Korea.
If a K-League club plays a friendly match against Barcelona, it needs to be approved by the Korea Football Association (KFA). This is because international games, including international competitions, follow KFA regulations.
The contents are detailed in the KFA International Competition approval and operation regulations. Article 9 (2) of the application and approval for the holding of a competition or competition in Chapter 3 (the deadline for application) states as follows:
“Application deadline for holding the competition: Submit application documents for approval under Article 10 to the association 60 days before the start of the competition.”
Barcelona has not submitted an official document on the friendly match against Seoul to the KFA.
Paragraph 3 states as follows.
“If there is an unavoidable reason for failing to apply for approval for the hosting of a competition or competition by the deadline for application prescribed in paragraphs 1 or 2 above, the relevant applicant organization shall submit a written reason to the association, and only if the association recognizes it, the competition shall be submitted at least 40 days before the opening of the competition and the competition at least 30 days before the opening of the competition.”
Barcelona wants to play in Korea in late May or early June at the latest. According to the regulations, he should have scheduled a visit to Korea and a game at the end of March at the latest.
If there is a reason, it should follow the KFA regulations. The inevitable reason for the failure to apply for approval of the event must be indicated in the reason and submitted to the KFA. And the KFA should acknowledge this.
This work should be completed no later than this week.
The purpose of a prestigious European club’s visit to Asia is one. It’s a profit.
Barcelona made a similar move last year. Barcelona headed to Japan as soon as it finished the 2022-23 season. Barcelona played a friendly match against Vissel Kobe on 6 June 2023 in Tokyo, Japan. Barcelona is known to have made more than 4 million euros (about 6 billion won) from this one game.
Barcelona will close out Spain’s 2023-24 Primera Liga with a match against Sevilla on May 27. Barcelona will then play a friendly match with Seoul to make another profit.
As a result of the MK Sports report, neither Seoul heard anything from Barcelona. There was also no official letter saying that he wanted to play a friendly match.
Just looking at the schedule, it is unusual for Seoul to play a friendly match against Barcelona.
Seoul will play five games in the league in May alone. Three games wait only in the last week of May when Barcelona tries to play a friendly match with Seoul. Starting with the match against the Pohang Steelers (away) on the 25th, Seoul will face Gimcheon Sangmu (28th, away) and Gwangju FC (June 2nd, home) in order.
There is no reason for Seoul to respond to this event unless it is a friendly match with guaranteed profits as much as Barcelona.
Barcelona is also a team that has left scars in the Korean soccer community.
Barcelona played a friendly match against the K League All-Star at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on August 4, 2010.
Barcelona did not come forward as an elite player. Barcelona removed Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, David Villa and Carlos Puyol, who led Spain to victory at the South African World Cup that summer, from the list of South Korea.
Lionel Messi, who was also a superstar at the time, played “just 15 minutes” on the ground as a substitute in the 30th minute of the first half, contrary to the expectations of Korean soccer fans. Messi came off the ground after the first half. Even this signaled his absence, but he rushed to play.
Barcelona showed a lackluster attitude in Korea at the time, leaving a strong impression of ignoring Korean soccer.
The 2024 season is very important for Seoul.
Seoul has stayed in the K League 1 Final B for four consecutive seasons since the 2019 season. Seoul has made all-out efforts to prepare for the 2024 season, starting with the appointment of head coach Kim Ki-dong, who successfully led Pohang.
In particular, Seoul is the most popular team in Korean professional sports. Seoul recorded an average attendance of 22,633 (total of 430,029) in 19 home games in the 2023 season. This is the highest average attendance record in Korean professional sports history.
Seoul has an average attendance of 30,269 (151,345 in total) in five home games this season. Seoul is the only team in Korean professional sports this year that has an average attendance of more than 30,000.
Seoul will challenge to break this season’s record for the most spectators this season at a home game against Ulsan HD FC on May 4. A Seoul official said, “As of April 30, more than 30,000 advance tickets were sold.”
Seoul also has the record for the largest number of spectators this season. Seoul was joined by a crowd of 51,670 against Incheon United at home on March 10.
Seoul is a team that does not need to bring in new fans with friendly matches against Barcelona. Seoul does not need to play a friendly match during the season with a European club with a clear purpose of profit.
According to regulations, Barcelona is unlikely to play a friendly match with Seoul.
Article 9 (4) of the KFA International Competition Approval and Operation Regulations Chapter 3 Application and approval for the holding of a competition or competition stipulates the following words.
“If the association determines that it is necessary for the development of soccer, the deadline for applying for the hosting of the competition or game may be further adjusted.”
KFA will approve a friendly match between Barcelona and Seoul after seeking consent from the Korea Professional Football Federation based on this provision. And if Seoul responds, a friendly match could happen.
Barcelona’s friendly matches in Korea do not help develop Korean soccer. Only Barcelona’s stomach is full. Barcelona proved this in 2010.
The foundation of Korean soccer is the K-League. There is no need for the K-League to claim to be a best man in Korea.
Lee Geun-seung, reporter for MK Sports.
