*This content was translated by AI.
Kim Min-jae (30, Bayern Munich), who was sent off after more than four years on the European stage, apologized not only to his fans but also to his teammates.
According to local reports such as Bild, Germany, on the 22nd (Korea time), Kim Min-jae said in an interview after the game, "I questioned whether it was really a red card," but added, "I apologized directly to each and every one of my teammates in the locker room after the game."
Kim Min-jae started in the seventh home game of the 2025-2026 UEFA Champions League (UCL) phase against Royal Winion Saint-Jillouaz (Belgium) at Allianz Arena in Munich, Germany, but was warned in the 18th minute of the first half and 18th minute of the second half, respectively, and was sent off due to accumulated warnings.
Kim Min-jae, who was warned once for a rough tackle in the first half, received a second yellow card in the 18th minute of the second half when his team was leading 2-0. Kim Min-jae and colleagues also protested the referee's decision, but the decision was not reversed.
It is the first time in four years and three months that Kim Min-jae was sent off from the European stage since the Turkiye Schiffer League against Trabzonspor in October 2021 when he was a member of Fenerbahce (Turkiye). Fortunately, Munich, which was outnumbered by Kim Min-jae's exit, secured the victory by securing a two-goal lead held by Harry Kane's multi-goal.
Kim Min-jae also made an apology gesture to fans as he left the stadium after the decision to leave. Fortunately, fans encouraged Kim Min-jae, who was sent off, by clapping rather than criticizing him.
Kim Min-jae said, "I'm so sorry to my colleagues. "I was in good condition, and I wanted to show more by playing longer," he said. "Still, the reaction and applause shown by the fans after the exit helped me a lot."
Meanwhile, Bayern Munich accumulated 18 points (6-1) with the victory, ranking second among the 36 teams after Arsenal (21 points, 7 wins). In the UCL League phase, where 36 teams compete, the 1st to 8th places go straight to the round of 16, and the 9th to 24th places play a round of 16 to determine the team that advanced to the round of 16, and Bayern Munich secured at least 8th place regardless of the final result, confirming its advance to the round of 16 early.
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*This content was translated by AI.
