'Not a wrong call': What made 93.1% of K League coaches angry at referees [StarNews 22nd Anniversary Special Report ②]

*This content was translated by AI.

"Referees are human; they can make mistakes or misjudge situations. However, persistent inconsistency in judging the same scene is a serious problem."

A professional soccer K League club coach who participated in StarNews' 22nd anniversary special survey responded to this question about on-field refereeing decisions as follows. While mistakes by referees—wrong calls—are possible and understandable at any time, inconsistent officiating is simply unacceptable.

An overwhelming 93.1%. Out of 29 K League 1 and K League 2 coaches asked what aspect of K League refereading or officiating was most disappointing (multiple responses allowed), a remarkable 27 chose "inconsistent officiating." Only five coaches cited wrong calls as their main concern. While mistakes in judgment can be understood, inconsistent decisions that vary from referee to referee—or even within the same match—are causing the greatest frustration on the field.

A K League coach stated, "The biggest issue with refereeing is inconsistency. For example, handball fouls near the goal are judged differently by different referees. From the perspective of on-field coaches, we cannot understand or trust these decisions." He further pointed out, "Regarding handball fouls near the goal, even during the pre-season officiating guideline meeting, Shim Pan-wi (Director) failed to provide a clear explanation. Since then, K League has seen differing interpretations among referees, leading field coaches to lose trust in officiating."

Another coach, referred to as 감, argued, "All referee judgment criteria—including fouls and goal checks—must be unified." Another head coach also expressed disappointment, stating, "Inconsistent officiating within the same match and across different matches is the biggest problem." 감 criticized the lack of a unified set of judging standards among referees.

Following inconsistent officiating, "communication issues regarding decisions" ranked second with 14 votes. One coach noted, "Regardless of whether a call was right or wrong, there is regret that sufficient and logical explanations or active communication have not been provided to those on the field or fans." Additionally, selective use or non-use of video review, high-handed attitudes toward players and benches each received 11 votes, while lack of transparency in disciplining referees garnered 7 votes.

Notably, dissatisfaction extended beyond disputes over decisions themselves; there was significant concern about referees' 'attitudes' toward players and benches. As many as 11 coaches expressed disappointment not only with wrong calls but also with the high-handed or authoritarian attitudes of referees. A K League coach emphasized, "The overly authoritarian attitude of referees is a culture that must change. We need to set aside hierarchies, respect each other, and work together to solve problems for Korean football's development. Rather than establishing superior-subordinate relationships, we should respectfully voice issues and correct them."

There were also many opinions expressing disappointment with the use of video assistant referee (VAR) systems introduced to reduce wrong calls. Some coaches regretted that VAR was either not used at all or applied in ways that left observers puzzled. A K League coach said, "I believe clear criteria for VAR checks need to be established." Another coach suggested that, like other sports, the video review process should not be visible only to the main referee but also broadcast on scoreboards.

As such, when asked about the causes of persistent officiating controversies in the K League, on-field coaches pointed to individual referee capabilities and the poor management by the Korea Football Association's Referee Committee as key factors. In this multiple-response survey, 17 coaches selected individual capability issues, while 16 chose inadequate management by the committee. Additionally, eight coaches, including 감, believed that officiating controversies are inevitable given the inherent difficulty of the referee role.

One coach who participated in the survey stated, "While I deeply empathize with and respect the heavy responsibilities and unique challenges referees face on the field," he added, "the lack of visible institutional transparency or clear self-correction and development processes has eroded trust, making even minor issues escalate."

Another coach expressed, "Referees can make mistakes, and errors can occur even during video review verification. However, if different judgments persist in the same situation, it becomes a serious problem." 감 emphasized, "The managing body (Korea Football Association) should not merely defend itself but must judge accurately and objectively and make those decisions public."

Furthermore, when asked whether they felt there were referees who made decisions unfavorable or favorable to specific teams, 12 out of 27 coaches (with two abstaining) answered "yes," while 13 chose to withhold direct answers. The fact that only two coaches responded "no" is a point that the refereeing community should seriously reflect upon.

Whenever controversies arise over K League refereeing decisions, questions about introducing foreign referees resurface. Among 29 K League coaches, 15 supported the idea, 10 remained undecided, and four opposed it.

One coach who supported the introduction of foreign referees stated, "Just as the K League has elevated its overall level through foreign players and coaches, if systematic measures are in place to generate positive synergy, approaching the introduction of foreign referee personnel or advanced officiating technologies with an open mind would be a good direction for development."

All coaches were positive about the 'Football Video Support' (FVS) system, which allows coaches to request video reviews. Known as FVS, this was also implemented during last October's FIFA U-20 World Cup. Under this system, a coach can request up to two video reviews per match, and the main referee cannot refuse such requests.

This has already been adopted not only in FIFA-sanctioned tournaments but also in some European leagues. In domestic professional sports like baseball and volleyball, similar systems operate under names like 'challenge.' Among 29 K League coaches, nine stated this system is "absolutely necessary," while the remaining 20 said they would welcome its implementation. Not a single coach responded that the system was unnecessary.

The emphasis on the necessity of this system on the field ultimately stems from dissatisfaction with video review processes. One coach remarked, "It seems referees need to respect on-field opinions and adopt a more thoughtful approach when reviewing video." Another coach added, "While challenges exist in every match, I hope VAR is utilized more proactively and transparently."

Despite ongoing officiating controversies in the K League and growing dissatisfaction and distrust toward referees on the field, coaches continue to strive to understand referees' challenges as fellow football professionals. Only five out of 29 coaches identified wrong calls as a problem, and many K League coaches expressed respect for referees during the survey process.

While accuracy in officiating is certainly important, what the field ultimately seeks is fairness. All coaches consistently pointed out that inconsistent decisions in identical situations should be avoided to minimize dissatisfaction and unnecessary misunderstandings. They also called for more active use of video review to reduce such grievances and requested that referees demonstrate a respectful attitude toward players and benches during decision-making processes.

A K League coach stated, "Recently, following the Shim Pan-wi (Director) (Moon Jin-hee Jeon (Chairman)) hearing, I have sensed an atmosphere where referees are making decisions with conviction on the field." He continued, "Football is inherently a sport of competition that brings excitement to fans. I hope referees clearly distinguish between challenges and fouls, preserving the flow of the game while creating thrilling matches."

Another head coach remarked, "Having experienced Asian competitions, I often feel that Korean referees' skills and standards are by no means low; in fact, they frequently appear highly competitive internationally." He added, "I sincerely hope that systematic support systems will be quickly established to provide greater motivation and rewards for excellent referees while helping those needing improvement enhance their capabilities, thereby solidifying the status of K League referees."

The coach further noted, "It is true that criticism from the media and public regarding recent decisions has intensified. However, if the league (association) and refereeing staff demonstrate an open attitude toward progress, these strong voices can soon turn into support and encouragement."

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*This content was translated by AI.