"Absolutely an action that should never be taken": Criticized by South Korean striker Oh Se-hoon, who was sent off for "insulting the referee"

*This content was translated by AI.

Oh Se-hoon (27, Shimizu S-Pulse), a forward who previously played for the South Korean national football team, received his second yellow card and was sent off due to accumulation of cautions from the opening match of Japan's J.League. Immediately after receiving the first caution, he made an insulting gesture toward the referee and was promptly issued a second yellow card. Even his own team's manager criticized Oh Se-hoon's behavior after the match, calling it "an action that should never have been taken."

On the 8th, Oh Se-hoon started as the lone striker in Shimizu S-Pulse's away match against Nagoya Grampus at Toyota Stadium in Japan for the 2026-2027 J.League Round 1 opener. However, in the 16th minute of the second half, while his team was leading 1-0, he received two consecutive yellow cards and was sent off due to accumulation of cautions.

The situation unfolded as follows: Near the halfway line, while attempting to stop Takamine Tomoki's dribble breakthrough, Oh Se-hoon grabbed and pulled the opponent's right shoulder from behind with his right arm. The referee immediately showed him a yellow card for what was deemed an intentional foul.

The problem arose immediately after the decision. With a faint smile on his face, Oh Se-hoon gave the referee a thumbs-up gesture and even clapped his hands. This action of Oh Se-hoon was clearly captured not only on the live broadcast but also in slow-motion replays. It could not be interpreted as an act of respect for the referee or the decision. The meaning of protesting the decision or mocking it was far stronger. It was an insulting act toward the referee.

The referee immediately issued Oh Se-hoon a second yellow card without hesitation. It was a sending-off due to accumulation of cautions. When the red card decision was announced, Oh Se-hoon stood with his hands on his hips for a while before eventually leaving the field. It was an unnecessary red card in a situation where his team was leading 1-0 away from home.

Fortunately, after Oh Se-hoon's sending-off, Shimizu managed to hold onto their one-goal lead despite being at a numerical disadvantage for about 30 minutes and secured the victory. Had the result changed after Oh Se-hoon's sending-off, harsh criticism from local fans would have been inevitable. However, regardless of the outcome, Shimizu manager Yoshida Takayuki directly criticized Oh Se-hoon's behavior.

According to local reports, Manager Yoshida stated in a press conference: "(Oh Se-hoon's action) was truly, absolutely an action that should never have been taken. I believe he is reflecting on it, and the entire team must ensure such an incident does not happen again." He added, "Playing football cleanly and intelligently is also what I, as a manager, strive for."

Japanese media Abema Times also criticized, stating: "Oh Se-hoon's action was far too reckless. After giving the referee a thumbs-up gesture followed by clapping, the referee immediately issued a second yellow card without hesitation. It was judged as an act lacking respect for the referee, resulting in a sending-off. Even video assistant referee (VAR) intervention occurred, but the red card decision was not overturned."

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*This content was translated by AI.