'Unprecedented controversy': Korean referee asks staff who they are after calming the chaos, then immediately issues a red card

*This content was translated by AI.

The controversy over officiating decisions has shaken the outcome of the match and escalated into an unprecedented red card dismissal of a club official. Amid growing distrust toward referees in recent K-League matches and among fans, reaching its worst point yet, another instance of incomprehensible communication failure has once again come under scrutiny.

Suwon Samsung recorded a 2-2 draw against Cheongju FC in an away match at the 20th round of the Hana Bank K League 2 2026 held on the 1st at Cheongju Sports Complex. Suwon, trailing 0-2 after conceding two consecutive goals in the first half, managed a dramatic equalizer and seized momentum thanks to Haes's brace.

Moreover, it seemed as though the match would end with a dramatic comeback victory for Suwon when Dubitskas's header in the final moments pierced Cheongju FC's net.

However, the head referee called a foul prior to the goal and disallowed the score, then immediately blew the final whistle. Suwon players, who had just missed three points right before their eyes, rushed toward the referee after the match ended in an agitated state to strongly protest.

The field quickly descended into chaos. Players on the pitch joined forces with substitutes on the bench to protest the referee, prompting a club official present at the scene to physically intervene and restrain the players. Head coach Lee Jeong-hyo also ordered his squad back to the bench area to help restore order.

As tensions escalated, the club front office stepped in directly to mediate and prevent any potential incidents. The official separated the referee from the team, approached the head referee, and requested at least a minimal explanation for the disallowed goal by saying, "Shouldn't you explain the situation to the players?"

However, what they received was the referee's absurd dismissal decision. After stating, "The goal was disallowed due to Dubitskas's foul," the referee asked, "Who are you?" Upon hearing the reply, "a club official," he immediately pulled out a red card.

In a phone call with StarNews, the club official expressed frustration, saying, "Both the team and the referees were agitated, so I separated them first to prevent any incidents. The players couldn't accept the decision, so I simply asked for an explanation. As soon as I identified myself, he immediately gave me a red card and sent me off." The club plans to submit a formal inquiry regarding this incident and the officiating situation.

Meanwhile, tension outside the stadium also reached its peak. According to NEWS1, Suwon fans furious over the decision gathered at the stadium entrance, prompting emergency deployment of approximately 30 police officers to ensure on-site safety. The fans dispersed late into the night only after confirming that the referee had already left via another route to avoid them.

Due to the referee's uncommunicative behavior of issuing a red card to a club official even while refusing to provide even a minimal explanation on the field, distrust toward K-League referees within the football community and fans' anger are expected to escalate uncontrollably.

As a result of today's match, Suwon missed an opportunity to take sole lead in the race against Busan IPark (18 matches, 36 points). Suwon secured one point, finishing the 20th round with 19 matches played, 11 wins, 4 draws, and 4 losses for a total of 37 points—just one point ahead of Busan.

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*This content was translated by AI.