Blame the Pitch for Not Winning? Korean Media: Son Heung-min and Others Complain About Pitch Quality, KFA May Consider Changing Home Ground

According to Korean media NATE, after being held to a 0-0 draw by Palestine in the first round of the Asian Qualifiers for the World Cup, including Son Heung-min among others, South Korean players believed that there were issues with the pitch at Seoul’s World Cup Stadium. The Korean Football Association (KFA) is thus considering the possibility of changing their home ground.

Son Heung-min complained in an interview that the players’ technical movements were affected by the pitch during the match, making it particularly difficult to play. He even felt that the away game pitches were better than their own, turning the home advantage into a “home disadvantage” instantly.

Son Heung-min pointed out, “There are many technically skilled players, but they encountered difficulties in ball control and dribbling. A fast-paced game could not be carried out, which was also disappointing for the fans. I hope that improvements can be made when we play at home, and it’s regrettable to see that the conditions of the away pitches are better.”

This matter reached the KFA, and they began to scratch their heads. They had already planned to play five crucial qualifiers at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, but now the players were not satisfied one by one. KFA staff privately revealed that they had begun contemplating whether to change the venue.

However, the location of the Seoul World Cup Stadium is indeed excellent, close to Incheon Airport, making travel convenient. But the quality of the pitch was frustrating. According to reports, due to weather conditions, rain combined with high temperatures increased the difficulty of pitch maintenance. The KFA was also troubled, as a considerable fee had to be paid to the venue management each time a match was held.

Currently, the KFA is seeking alternative options, but suitable venues seem scarce. Suwon World Cup Stadium is under renovation, while Incheon Munhak Stadium has been unused for a long time. Thus, the KFA can only be anxiously awaiting.

Korean media pointed out that where the next match will be played depends on how the KFA weighs the pros and cons, finding a place that can ensure both player performance and convenient transportation.