Soccer is a relatively weatherproof sport. Rain or shine, as long as the ball is rolling, the game is played. Fans know this better than anyone, and they don’t let bad weather stop them from heading to the stadium.
Such was the case for the FA Cup semifinal between Jeju United and Pohang Steelers, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 9 at Jeju World Cup Stadium. Despite the news that Typhoon Kanun was passing through, fans of both teams gathered at the stadium early and cheered on the players as they warmed up on the field.
With only a light breeze blowing, it looked like the game would go ahead as normal.
However, the fans didn’t get the kickoff they wanted. “Due to the sudden change in weather caused by the typhoon, the game could not be played, so after discussions with the match supervisor and the tournament headquarters, we decided to postpone today’s game for everyone’s safety,” Jeju announced on social media at 7:00 p.m., 30 minutes before kickoff.
The decision was not made by the Jeju club. The decision to postpone the game was made in a letter sent by Jeju at 6:30 p.m. to the Korea Football Association, Pohang, and Jeju.
In the letter, Jeju requested, “If the tournament goes ahead, there is a risk of safety accidents for players and spectators, and there is also a risk of promoting the public’s lack of safety, so we request that you take active measures to cancel or postpone the match.
In the end, the event was postponed as the competition supervisor and the association, which decides whether or not to hold the event, accepted Jeju Island’s request.
Safety is undoubtedly a priority. The National Center for Disaster Prevention and Countermeasures was on alert for Kanun to make landfall on the south coast on the afternoon of the 10th, and Jeju Island should have been ready sooner.
However, both clubs and fans expressed disappointment that if the game had to be postponed due to safety concerns, the decision should have been made at least a day before the game, not an hour before kickoff. Compare this to professional baseball games held around the country at the same time. If they were concerned about safety, it would have been more equitable to cancel all games. 꽁머니사이트
Moreover, both clubs have a lot to lose by postponing the semifinals. With a packed K League schedule and the Asian Champions League (ACL) starting in August, it’s not easy to reschedule the match. The away team, Pohang, had to travel to and from Jeju a day earlier and a day later than usual to accommodate the typhoon. About 100 fans traveling with Pohang also had to return home in disappointment.