South Korean officials have now embarked on a fact-finding mission after Son Heung-min slammed the nation’s soccer fields. The South Korean soccer team captain recently bemoaned the condition of his home country’s soccer pitches. Apparently, the pitch conditions in the country’s regional cities were no better than the Seoul World Cup stadium they had avoided for the same reason. How bad were they? Here’s the investigation.
Some might find Son’s complaint a little convenient, considering the timing. This is coming on the heels of the Taegeuk Warriors drawing Oman and Jordan, and generally returning disappointing results in the ongoing FIFA World Cup qualifier campaign. The man’s annoyance is understandable, considering winning in either of the two games would’ve sent Korea to the finals.
The prolific Tottenham Hotspur forward reportedly vented his frustration to the Yonhap News Agency. “I know we can play better than this,” he said, “but when conditions on our home soil get in the way, then I wonder where we should get our home field advantage.”
Son pretty much blamed his home country’s fields for the team’s mediocre runs. At least, partly. “I think there’s a reason why we’ve had better results in away matches,” he told Yonhap. “When we’re at home, we’re supposed to enjoy the best playing conditions possible, but things have not improved at all.”
The authorities heard Son’s complaint loud and clear, as evidenced by the sports ministry’s recent announcement that it would collaborate with the domestic soccer league, stadium management, and individual clubs to improve pitch conditions. According to the Korea JoonAng Daily, the ministry and the league have already tasked and dispatched the relevant K League department to investigate and report back on Son’s complaints.
While the move is commendable, one can’t help but wonder if the country’s fields aren’t better suited for crop cultivation than high-stake soccer matches. Maybe the investigation should include figuring out if the groundskeepers haven’t been using the Goyang and Suwon pitches to cultivate a side hustle in agriculture. Imagine forwards like Son not only dodging defenders but also rogue patches of cabbage and carrots.
In that case, it’s either the authorities act decisively, or it might find itself fielding a team of farmers instead of footballers. Who needs a golden boot when you can have a golden hoe, right? Jokes aside, Son is known for his humble, positive attitude and a penchant to avoid unnecessary conflicts. To complain about those pitches on camera, the situation must be – well, organic.
He has always taken responsibility for his performance instead of blaming other players or even the coach. He didn’t point fingers when he gave an honest assessment of the team’s performance following Tottenham’s disappointing first-leg Round of 16 clash against AZ Alkmaar Europa League match on March 6.
Of course, Son knew some would dismiss his complaint as shifting blame. “I know this may sound like an excuse,” he said in his Yonhap News Agency statement, “but every small detail matters in football. It can make the difference of getting one point or getting three points. I hope people will pay closer attention to it.”
The South Korean sports ministry agrees. “The pitch condition not only has a direct impact on player performance, but it also directly affects whether players can avoid injury, how much fans enjoy games, and the overall quality of the games,” said a ministry official in charge of the inspection project in a press release on Thursday.
“We will come up with a plan to realistically improve stadiums’ pitch conditions through this inspection and form a continuous management system by reinforcing communication with the K League, clubs, and those in charge of stadium operations.”
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