South Korean Women's Team Threatens Asian Cup Boycott
The South Korean women's football team has threatened a boycott of the upcoming Asian Cup tournament in Australia. The team cited "harsh and unreasonable conditions" under the Korea Football Association (KFA) and a perceived lack of equal treatment compared to the men's national team.
Dispute Over Equal Treatment
A statement signed by players on September 26 last year claimed the KFA considered "equal treatment with the men's national team as unreasonable." A response from the KFA was requested by October 17, prior to the Asian Cup's commencement on March 1.
A statement signed by players on September 26 last year claimed the KFA considered "equal treatment with the men's national team as unreasonable."
The KFA provided a response on the deadline, but the Korea Professional Footballers' Association stated on January 23 that no further dialogue took place. Parts of the original statement were leaked to local media before the union publicized its content.
Organizers Acknowledge Situation
Sarah Walsh, a former Matildas player and now chief operating officer of the tournament's local organizing committee, indicated that the issue falls outside their direct responsibility. The Asian Football Confederation (AFC), as the competition owner, is responsible for team participation.
Walsh described a potential withdrawal as "devastating" but expressed an expectation for a resolution.
She added that the organizing committee's role is to manage matches and provide high-quality facilities for teams once they arrive.
Matildas Remain Focused on Preparations
Heather Garriock, Football Australia's interim chief executive, stated that the Matildas are concentrating on their own preparations. Garriock highlighted Football Australia's achievement of gender equity and expressed anticipation for playing against South Korea, irrespective of the team's composition. The Matildas are scheduled to face South Korea in the group stages on March 8 in Sydney; South Korea eliminated Australia in the 2022 Asian Cup.