South Korean soccer league season set to kick off on May 8

By: John Duerden, The Associated Press Posted: 4:02 AM CDT Friday, Apr. 24, 2020 Last Modified: 8:31 AM CDT Friday, Apr. 24, 2020

Advertise with us

SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of - Players, coaches and fans have two weeks to get used to new rules around soccer in South Korea after the K-League announced Friday that the delayed season will kick off on May 8.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*First annual payment billed as $205.00 + GST for one year. This annual subscription will automatically renew at $233.00 + GST every 52 weeks (10% off the regular annual price of $259.35). Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

Read unlimited articles for free today:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/04/2020 (2350 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

SEOUL, Korea, Republic Of – Players, coaches and fans have two weeks to get used to new rules around soccer in South Korea after the K-League announced Friday that the delayed season will kick off on May 8.

Jeonbuk Motors will take on Suwon Bluewings in the opening game, which was originally scheduled for Feb. 29.

The league was suspended when South Korea went into lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic, and players have recently returned to training and started playing practice games this week.

FILE - In this July 26, 2019, file photo, Cesinha, right, of Team K League jumps with his teammates to celebrate after scoring a goal against Juventus during a friendly match at the Seoul World Cup Stadium in Seoul, South Korea. Players, coaches and fans have two weeks to get used to new rules around soccer in South Korea after the K-League announced that the delayed season will kick off on May 8. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)

There have been more than 10,700 cases of COVID-19 in South Korea, and 240 deaths according to a tally compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

Restrictions are gradually being lifted and new daily cases of the coronavirus have dropped to single digits this week in South Korea after peaking in February, but not enough to allow fans to attend games at the start of the season.

The league is also imposing strict social-distancing regulations for players on and off the field. On the field, it apparently means players can’t even converse with teammates or officials during games, and definitely no shaking hands.

“Things like not spitting during the game, we can do no problem but not talking to teammates is impossible,” Incheon United captain Kim Do-hyeok told reporters after a practice game. The interviews took place on the field rather than in the usual mixed zone inside the stadium. “If we can’t have conversations on the field, we may as well not play soccer at all.”

Kim is hoping spectators will be soon back in the stadiums cheering on the 10 teams in Asia’s oldest professional league. The Korean baseball league has also started pre-season games and is set for opening day on May 5, also in empty stadiums.

Sports leagues and events in most parts of the world have been shuttered during the pandemic.

“It would be great to play in front of fans, but if we all play our part in stopping the spread of the virus then they will soon be back in their seats,” Kim said.

Coaches are having to adapt, too.

Suwon coach Kim Do-gyun had issues trying to communicate with his players while wearing a mask.

“It’s true that it is uncomfortable when you are trying to give instructions during the game,” Kim said. “At the moment, however, these are things that you have to do.”

More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports