*This content was translated by AI.
As K League 1 club Gangwon FC narrowly lost in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League Elite (ACLE) playoffs, controversies surrounding the match officials' operations and decisions have also attracted attention in Japan.
On the 11th (Korean time), Japanese website Soccer Digest reported, "South Korean media are strongly outraged that Gangwon failed to properly utilize its legitimate substitution opportunity due to a mistake by the refereeing team."
Gangwon lost 0-1 after conceding a decisive goal from Nawata Gaku in the 13th minute of the first half of extra time against Gamba Osaka at the Gangneung Comprehensive Stadium.
With this defeat, Gangwon failed to qualify for the ACLE main tournament and will instead compete in AFC Champions League 2 (ACL2), the second tier of Asian club competitions.
In contrast, Gamba secured a spot in the ACLE main tournament by defeating Gangwon.
This is an even more regrettable outcome for Gangwon. Gamba was the champion of ACL2 in the 2025-2026 season, having defeated Al Nassr (Saudi Arabia), featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, 2-0 in the final to claim the title.
Gangwon engaged in a tightly contested match against this "Japanese powerhouse" for the full 90 minutes of regular time.
However, once extra time began, controversies over refereeing operations and decisions continued to arise.
The most significant issue occurred during player substitutions. Soccer Digest explained, "Gangwon was allowed up to three additional substitutions in extra time, but when they attempted to make two substitutions simultaneously, the refereeing team did not permit it."
Due to the referees' failure to properly understand the tournament regulations, Gangwon could not utilize its planned substitution cards as intended.
Amid the chaotic atmosphere, a goal was eventually conceded. In the 13th minute of the first half of extra time, Gamba's Yamashita Ryoya connected with a pass from the right flank, and Nawata finished with a shot from the opposite side of the penalty area to score the decisive goal. The ball struck the crossbar before crossing the goal line.
A regrettable scene involving refereeing decisions also occurred near the end of the match. In the final moments of the second half of extra time, while trailing 0-1, Abdullah fell to the ground during a challenge with an opposing defender.
Broadcast footage captured a Gamba defender forcefully pulling Abdullah from behind.
However, the referee, who was observing the incident up close, did not call a foul. Although Gangwon players strongly expressed their disappointment, the decision remained unchanged, and the match continued as is.
Ultimately, after 120 minutes of intense battle, Gangwon lost by just one goal and failed to qualify for the ACLE main tournament.
The regret is even greater due to the significant gap between ACLE and ACL2. The two tournaments differ not only in recognition but also substantially in prize money and financial rewards such as victory bonuses. For Gangwon, which narrowly missed qualifying for the ACLE main tournament, the loss extends beyond the match result itself.
Soccer Digest reported, "Given how crucial this match was, South Korea's anger is unlikely to subside easily."
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*This content was translated by AI.
