"I'm on the National Team's Side, Not the Coach's" - Jung-Hwan Ahn Denies Allegations of Defending Hong Myung-Bo and the Football Association

Refutes Allegations of Defending the Association and Coach Hong Myung-Bo
"I Haven't Worked with the Association Once in the Past 13 Years"

Former national football team player and broadcaster Jung-Hwan Ahn firmly drew a line regarding suspicions that he was defending the Korea Football Association. Referring to his history of keeping a distance from the Association, he stated that if problems continue even after the football association’s reform, he would take direct action himself.

On the 28th, Ahn appeared on the TikTok live entertainment program Tikitiki Takataka Talk Talk Show, discussing the South Korean national football team’s failure to advance to the round of 32 in the 2026 North and Central America World Cup with Nam-Il Kim, caster Jang-Hyun Yoon, and others. During the broadcast, Ahn directly addressed recent criticism among some football fans alleging that he was “defending the Korea Football Association” and “protecting Coach Hong Myung-Bo.”

On the 28th, Ahn Jung-hwan appeared on the TikTok live entertainment program Tik Tik Takataka Talk Talk Show, continuing his comments in defense of the Korea Football Association and Coach Hong Myung-bo. The TikTok live entertainment program Tik Tik Takataka Talk Talk Show

Ahn stated, “Isn’t the Korea Football Association about to be completely cleaned out now? If everything is changed but things still go wrong, I will stage a one-man protest in front of the Association. And then I’ll leave the football world.” This was a direct rebuttal to criticism that he was remaining silent or turning a blind eye to the problems within the Association.

He also drew a clear line regarding suspicions about his relationship with the Association. He said, “Since retiring, I have not worked in the football association even once in the past 13 years. I am the only one who hasn’t gone in. If I had wanted to, I would have already done so.” He continued, “I got upset after seeing comments saying I was trying to get a position in the Association. While Chung Mong-Gyu was president, I never worked with them even once. That’s because I didn’t want to become like that person.”

Ahn also expressed frustration about the perception that he is not criticizing the Association more strongly. He asked, “Does the Football Association report to me? Am I the control tower? Am I above Chairman Chung Mong-Gyu?” Regarding criticism that he did not take Park Joo-Ho’s side during the World Cup coach appointment process and did not publicly criticize the Association, he explained, “How could I know what goes on inside when I’m not an insider? If I don’t know, what am I supposed to do? Isn’t this just asking me to join in the criticism?”

Previously, after Coach Hong Myung-Bo was criticized for substituting Son Heung-Min early in the group stage match against Mexico, Ahn commented, “People are asking why Son Heung-Min was taken out early, but just imagine if Cho Gue-Sung had scored a header then. I support the national team, not Coach Hong.” This statement was followed by criticism that Ahn was defending Hong Myung-Bo. In response, Ahn said, “I admit I made a mistake, but I didn’t swear or insult anyone. This is just my freedom of expression.”

Regarding the scene where Ahn bowed his head when Young-Gwang Kim shouted “Hong Myung-Bo out” on air, he clarified, “I wasn’t watching for anyone’s reaction, I was just checking the script. I’m not the type of person who cares about what others think. In fact, Young-Gwang Kim was the one watching my reaction.” However, Ahn asked fans to refrain from attacking the families of players and officials, regardless of criticism about performance. He said, “I agree with criticizing poor performance or play, but I hope people don’t take it out on families.” He added, “I hope criticism is limited to comments like ‘not good at football’ or ‘lacking ability.’ I don’t want to see people hurting others in other ways.” In closing, Ahn once again emphasized the need for reform in the Korea Football Association. He said, “Reform of the Football Association is desperately needed. Right now, the organization is being cleaned out. If things go wrong again, I’ll stage a one-man protest myself.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.