"I don't like that question," Hiddink expressed displeasure in an interview regarding the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup officiating, stating it was "biased toward one side."

*This content was translated by AI.

Former South Korean national team coach Guus Hiddink (80, Netherlands) drew a line on the controversy over biased officiating while reflecting on the 2002 Korea-Japan World Cup. He particularly expressed displeasure at an overtly suggestive question implying that referee Byron Moreno (Ecuador), who officiated the Round of 16 match against Italy, made rulings favorable to South Korea.

In an interview with renowned Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio released on the 9th (Korea time), Coach Hiddink remarked, "In 2002, we prepared intensely day by day and managed to rise from FIFA ranking 72nd to around 20th. We were well-prepared ahead of the World Cup and were at our peak both physically and technically. Physically, we held the advantage, and European teams struggled significantly against us."

When Hiddink used the phrase "European teams struggled," Di Marzio replied, "Italy and Spain are examples of that," and then overtly raised suspicions of biased officiating by asking, "Didn't referee Moreno wear a South Korean jersey under his referee uniform?" In Italian football circles, there is a prevailing view that South Korea's loss in the 2002 World Cup Round of 16 was due to biased refereeing by Moreno.

In response, Coach Hiddink immediately said, "I do not like that question because it reveals a viewpoint biased toward a specific side," expressing his displeasure. He continued, "If we are going to talk in that manner, Christian Vieri should have already received a warning for elbowing an opponent in the first half, but Moreno did not see it."

Coach Hiddink stated, "It is easy to blame the referees. At that time, Italy was a team with immense potential. Look at the names of those extraordinary and truly exceptional players," yet he added, "With such strength, they should have completely dominated South Korea but failed to do so. Italy should have won easily, but they did not."

Regarding criticism faced by Ahn Jung-hwan, who scored the decisive goal at the time and was later released from Perugia, Coach Hiddink remarked, "If you lose, you must act with dignity and sportsmanship. Did Italy do that?" He further pointed out, "Italy should have defeated South Korea within 90 minutes despite having those star players. They should not complain after losing. It seems they are trying to provoke me through this interview to elicit a reaction, but my answer remains unchanged."

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*This content was translated by AI.