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🇰🇷 South Korea /Sports

Referee tells Ji So-yun, ‘Are you on your period?’ then shows her a yellow card after objection

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Under investigation
  • A referee allegedly used a derogatory menstrual reference while Ji So-yun protested a foul during a WK League match on Aug. 28.
  • Ji objected to the remark, but the referee showed her a yellow card, stopping the match for about four minutes.
  • Suwon FC, the Korea Professional Footballers Association and others called for an investigation and serious action.

A referee’s alleged menstrual insult toward South Korean football star Ji So-yun has triggered demands for disciplinary action after the official followed the remark with a yellow card.

The incident occurred during the Aug. 28 regular-season match between Suwon FC Women and Seoul City Hall at Suwon Sports Complex. Ji approached the referee to protest a rough foul by an opposing player. During the exchange, the referee reportedly said over radio communications, “She’s been sensitive from the start. I guess she’s having her period.”

If you say something like that, you should be disciplined.

— Ji So-yunShe protested after hearing the referee’s alleged menstrual remark.

Ji, who heard the comment at close range, objected strongly. “If you say something like that, you should be disciplined,” she said, according to the report. The referee apologized instead by showing Ji a yellow card. Play stopped for about four minutes. The official reportedly also cautioned a Suwon FC Women interpreter who protested the remark.

She’s been sensitive from the start. I guess she’s having her period.

— RefereeThe alleged comment made during the match over radio communications.

The Korea Football Association initially said the referee had not used the word “menstruation,” but later said the official appeared to have used “Girls’ Day,” slang referring to menstruation. Suwon FC formally protested to the association and the Korea Women’s Football Federation, requesting a fact-finding investigation. The club said that while referees can caution players who challenge decisions, they must maintain mutual respect.

The Korea Professional Footballers Association described the case as a serious human-rights violation and an abuse of refereeing authority, rather than a routine dispute over a call. Co-chairman Lee Keun-ho said the referee had caused lasting humiliation to a player in front of both teams and criticized the use of cards to suppress objections. The Korea Football Association plans to discuss the matter at a refereeing evaluation committee meeting on Thursday.

The referee must protect players most closely, but instead caused lasting humiliation to a specific player in front of both teams.

— Lee Keun-hoThe Korea Professional Footballers Association co-chair criticized the referee’s conduct.
About this summary

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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