The K-League’s FC Seoul has released a statement regarding the recently canceled trade between Lee Tae-seok (FC Seoul) and Won Doo-jae (Ulsan HD).
“FC Seoul would like to convey the club’s position regarding the recent player transfer issue with Ulsan HD and ask for the understanding of our fans,” FC Seoul wrote in a lengthy post on its official account.
“We have been working on transfers with several clubs, including Ulsan HD, to strengthen our team for the summer transfer window, and while we were considering various ways to strengthen some of our weak positions, we found a mutual interest with Ulsan HD and proceeded with this transfer,” the club explained.
“However, the deal fell through when Ulsan HD unilaterally and abruptly withdrew from what was in fact a finalized agreement. As a result of the collapse of the transfer talks, our efforts to strengthen the player we had planned to pursue in this summer’s transfer market have been completely halted, and the player in question has suffered severe mental distress, causing tremendous damage to our organization and many others involved.”
“We strongly urge Ulsan HD to thoroughly reflect and take measures to prevent a recurrence in the future,” the club said.
FC Seoul said, “The FC Seoul front desk failed to fulfill its role,” adding, “First and foremost, the FC Seoul front desk is to blame.”
“This season, FC Seoul tried our best to build a new squad at the beginning of the season to show a different look with the arrival of the best coach in the K League, Kim Ki-dong, but we fell far short. This fundamental responsibility is the reason why we decided to pursue this trade with Ulsan HD. We are deeply responsible for this and apologize to our fans once again,” the club apologized.
The club added, “We also deeply apologize to the players involved in this transfer. Regardless of the rightness or wrongness of the club’s decision, it has caused a great deal of heartache and loss. FC Seoul will do our best to help heal the pain of this unimaginable wound, and we also ask for the understanding of the Ulsan HD players involved in this transfer.”
“We also apologize to coach Kim Ki-dong, who is experiencing great confusion in managing the squad. FC Seoul Front, which carries out transfers based on communication with the manager, should have proceeded more carefully by learning from the precedents of Ulsan HD, which has been in trouble with other clubs in the K League due to its administrative practices that went beyond common sense and common decency. Once again, we will take this opportunity to strengthen our capabilities to carry out transfers in a more detailed manner.”
“We look forward to Ulsan HD’s role and responsibilities as befits the status of a leading K League club,” said the club. ”All clubs in the K League compete fiercely, and sometimes the heated competition leads to emotional conflicts that go beyond soccer, but each club has been fortunate to develop the K League through healthy competition based on set rules and respectful trust.”
“However, Ulsan HD’s decision to cancel the transfer is a complete breach of trust between the club and the league. There has never been, nor should there ever be, a case where two clubs abruptly withdraw from an agreement that was the result of intense negotiations and trust, without regard to the hurt that the other club and its players will suffer.”
“In particular, the statement sent to only a few media outlets, including our own, on the 17th of this month was in a format and content that makes it hard to believe that it was an official statement from the club. We express our deep regret for the situation that is causing serious misunderstandings in the public domain.” ‘We will not comment on the distorted facts because it is our sincere belief not to disclose contract-related matters to the public. However, it is not correct to identify a player and link him to this incident. For the protection of the player, we will not mention the exact facts, but we would like to clarify that what Ulsan HD announced in its statement is not true and is completely different from the case of the contract withdrawal, which was done out of mere remorse,’ the club emphasized.
“Ulsan HD is a leading K League club that has won the K League for two consecutive years. FC Seoul hopes that Ulsan HD will take this opportunity to transform itself into a club with the administrative power, role, and responsibility of a leading club. We sincerely hope that Ulsan HD will join all K League members who are working hard to show that the center of Korean football is not only the national team, but also the K League.”
“FC Seoul would like to apologize once again to all parties involved, including our fans. We will do our best to come together as one and reap good results in the 2024 season. Thank you,” he concluded.
Earlier, Ulsan HD proposed a trade to FC Seoul and agreed to trade Won Doo-jae and Lee Tae-seok. The players agreed, but Ulsan HD changed their minds and the deal was canceled. 안전놀이터