FC Seoul has announced its official position on the trade between Lee Tae-seok (Seoul) and Won Doo-jae (Ulsan), which is on the verge of collapse.
Seoul announced the club's position on the issue of player transfer to Ulsan on its official SNS on the 23rd. The club has been pushing for transfer work with several clubs, including the Ulsan club, to strengthen the team's power during the summer transfer period. Among them, while considering various measures to reinforce the somewhat insufficient position, the transfer was carried out because there was a consensus with the Ulsan club. However, the trade was not completed as Ulsan club unilaterally withdrew the contents that had actually reached the final agreement. As the transfer negotiations failed, all efforts to reinforce players planned to be promoted in the transfer market this summer have been suspended, and many people involved as well as our club are suffering enormous damage, with the player also suffering serious mental pain. Therefore, we strongly urge the Ulsan club to thoroughly reflect on it and come up with measures to prevent a recurrence in the future."
Seoul and Ulsan pushed for a trade to exchange fullback Lee Tae-seok and defensive midfield bean paste. Lee Tae-seok was expected to play in the quarterfinals of the Korea Cup against Pohang on the 17th, but he left the team as the transfer negotiations were nearing the end. The two clubs reached an agreement on the terms, and the two players also reached an individual agreement. However, the Ulsan club conveyed its intention to withdraw, saying the situation changed after coach Hong Myung-bo left to take charge of the national team.
Seoul says "All the clubs that make up the K-League compete in a fierce competition. Sometimes there are emotional battles beyond soccer due to overheated competition, but each club has developed the K-League by playing a healthy competition based on good faith that contains set rules and respect. However, Ulsan's withdrawal of the transfer is an act that has completely betrayed the trust between the club and the club. There has never been a case in which both clubs withdraw the results of trust agreed through the process of intense negotiations at once, regardless of the hurt that the other team and players will suffer for reasons that are unclear, and it should not happen afterwards. In particular, the statement delivered to only some media, including the club, on the 17th was a form and content that could not be believed to be the club's official statement. In addition, there was a distortion that was different from the truth. We deeply regret the situation that is causing serious external misunderstandings as a result of this."
I will not comment on the distorted fact because it is in good faith not to publish the contract-related contents externally. However, it is not correct to specify a player in relation to a player belonging to the club and link it to this incident. I won't mention the exact facts to protect the players, but the announcement made by the Ulsan club in the statement is not true, and it is a completely different case from the withdrawal of the contract, which was conducted simply because of a change of mind. The Ulsan club is the leading K-League club that won the K-League for two consecutive years. Seoul expects the Ulsan club to transform into a leading club-like administrative power, a role worthy of it and a responsible club. I sincerely hope that Ulsan will be with all the members of the K-League who are trying to promote that the center of Korean soccer is not only the national team but also the K-League," he wrote.
Seoul also apologized to Seoul fans. Seoul is "First of all, the Seoul front desk is the biggest fault. This season, Seoul made its best efforts to form a team at the beginning of the season to show a change with the recruitment of the K-League's best manager, Kim Ki-dong, but it lacked a lot. This fundamental responsibility was the reason for pushing for a trade transfer with the Ulsan club. I deeply feel the responsibility and once again apologize to the fans. We also deeply apologize to the team's players related to this transfer. The club's decision was right and wrong, and the resulting loss caused an indelible wound. Seoul will do its best to help heal the pain of the wounds that cannot be measured. In addition, we ask for understanding from the Ulsan club's players involved in this transfer. We also apologize to head coach Kim Ki-dong, who is experiencing great confusion in running the team. The Seoul front office, which promotes the transfer work based on communication with the manager, should have conducted it more carefully, using the precedents that have been problematic with other K-League clubs with their administrative power beyond common sense and superiority. Once again, with this incident, we will strengthen our capabilities to conduct more detailed transfer work. We will do our best to unite and achieve good results in the 2024 season," he concluded.
yoonjinman@sportschosun.com
