Ex-Coach Hong Denies Contact with FA Chairman Amid Appointment Probe

Former South Korean national football team coach Hong Myung-bo has denied any contact with then-Football Association chairman Chung Mong-gyu during the process of his appointment as head coach. Appearing as a witness at a parliamentary hearing on July 30, Hong told lawmakers that he had no communication with Chung regarding his selection.

The police investigation into Hong's appointment centers on allegations of undue influence from senior Football Association officials. According to reports, Hong stated that he was unaware of any discussions or decisions made by the association's technical committee that might have led to his selection. This comes after a former technical director claimed he was instructed by Chung to interview the final three candidates and assess their willingness to accept the coaching position.

Regarding his high salary, Hong reportedly told investigators that it was comparable to what he earned as coach for Ulsan HD in the K League. Police have been actively pursuing this investigation, recently conducting searches of the Football Association's offices in Cheonan and Seoul to secure relevant documents. They are expected to summon Chung Mong-gyu for questioning once the analysis of the seized materials is complete.