K League News Round-up July 4th

The latest K League news includes VAR "ruining the beautiful game", Incheon United still searching for a Mugosa replacement, and a first K League goal from Korea's answer to Jamie Vardy.

'VAR is ruining the beauty of football': Daegu FC manager Alexandre Gama

In Sunday's 0-0 draw at home to Suwon FC, Daegu FC had a goal chalked off early in the second half following a VAR review. The Brazilian, however, disagreed with the decision and said to the media the game that VAR is ruining the beautiful game: "First of all, for the goal, Zeca was ruled offside. But his movement was in no relation to the goal and it's disappointing that the goal was disallowed. But it's not just us, it happens to other teams too. (VAR) is trying to make the beauty of football too honest and perfect. It can help when it comes to things like penalties but there's definitely a tendency to judge football too rigidly." (STN Sports)

'We're looking for a Mugosa replacement but it's difficult': Incheon United manager Jo Sung-hwan

Incheon United drew 0-0 with Suwon Samsung Bluewings on Sunday in what was the first game without Stefan Mugosa who has left for J.League side Vissel Kobe. Incheon have been linked to the likes of Stanislav Iljutecnko and An Byong-jun to replace him but manager Jo Sung-hwan says the search for Mugosa's replacement isn't going all that smoothly: "W're looking for a player to replace Mugosa, but it's not working. It's not a situation where we can recruit players just by looking at the video." Mugosa joined Incheon in 2018 and went on to become the club's all-time top scorer. (Yonhap)

'I'm still waiting for good news about Hwang In-beom': FC Seoul manager An Ik-soo

FC Seoul manager An Ik-soo admits that he is hopeful of some good news regarding an extension or fresh deal for Hwang In-beom. Speaking to Goal on Saturday, An said:

"I was concentrating on the game (Jeju away) so there's been no contact (from me on the matter). I'm only receiving reports on the situation but at the moment there's nothing good to report. I'm looking forward to [some good news]."

FC Seoul came from 2-0 down on the island to earn a 2-2 draw thanks to goals from Jung Han-min and Kang Seong-jin.

'If I do my best KNT chance will come': Gangwon FC's Kim Dae-won

With eight goals and three assists to his name this season for struggling Gangwon FC, Kim Dae-won has said that he remains hopeful of a callup to the Korean national team. Speaking to InterFootball after Gangwon's 2-0 away win over Seongnam FC, in which Kim laid on an assist for the game's opening goal, the former Daegu FC winger said: "I'm not thinking too much about the national team. If I keep doing my best at Gangwon FC then a good opportunity will probably come along. Twenty combined goals and assists is the target (for me) and I am really determined to help guide the team to a better place in the table. "

'The foreigners need to work harder': Seongnam FC manager Kim Nam-il

Seongnam FC's 2-0 loss at home to Gangwon FC left the Magpies six points adrift at the bottom of the table. But speaking to the media after, as reported by InterFootball, Kim said that the foreign players need to improve if Seongnam are to turn things around: "We need to take our chances. The foreigners need to improve their concentration when they're in the box. This is what we need to improve, I think. Milos hasn't played a lot (of late) but he did okay today. His shooting and passing was impressive.

'Fejsal, be sure to look after Milos, won't you?': Mugosa to Mulic

Seongnam striker Fejsal Mulic told Four Four Two that Mugosa has told him to look after new Magpie Milos. Close friends and ex-teammates from their time at 1860 Munich, Mulic and departing Incheon striker Stefan Mugosa saw a lot of each other off the pitch in Korea. Mulic said that Mugosa had told him that, although the situation at Seongnam isn't good, it will get better while also saying to help Milos settle in. 

'I can shoot with my left foot!': FC Anyang's Maxwell Acosty

A brace from Maxwell Acosty helped FC Anyang onto a 4-1 Line 4 Derby win over Ansan Greeners on Saturday. For Acosty, they were his first goals since April but first this season with his left foot which the Ghanian says proves he does indeed have the ability to shoot with his left foot:

"The coaches and the manager joke that I don't have a left foot but today I'm pleased that I was able to show them that I do. Throughout my career I have scored a lot with my left and my shooting accuracy is high."

Acosty also admitted that he has been looking at the table to see if the Violets have been able to gain some ground on the teams above them:

"As soon as I go into the dressing room I checked the Bucheon and Daejeon score. Going up to third is good but we know that Bucheon are going to be right behind us. Anyang is a team that should be in first I'll do my best and with the help of my teammates to take us up the table." (Sportal Korea)

[READ: 2022 K League 2 Round 25 Preview]

The 'Korean Jamie Vardy' Kim Bum-soo's first K League goal

Kim Bum-soo scored his first K League goal on Saturday in Jeju United's 2-2 draw with FC Seoul. Kim is a recent signing at Jeju having joined from K4 side Seoul Jungang but in a true rags to riches story, the 22-year-old was playing in K7 just two years ago. Kim found the back of the net in the 25th minute, pounding on a defensive lapse before being taken off in the 33rd minute. (NoCut News)

'I learned a lot whilst I was out': Pohang Steelers goalkeeper Kang Hyun-mu

An ankle injury kept Pohang goalkeeper Kang Hyun-mu out for almost a year, 286 days to be exact. He made his return in the Steelers' FA Cup quarterfinal win over Daegu FC after Yun Pyung-guk was ruled out with a hand injury. Kang, though, says he learned a lot whilst he was out injured: "I wasn't particularly stressed (whilst I was out). Off the pitch I was able to learn a lot. In the past, when I was waiting to make my debut, I was really eager to play and it was difficult for me when I wasn't. But this time, I realised there is as much to learn off the pitch as there is on it. I spent time reflecting or thinking about what I'll do when I retire. (News1)

Ban looming for Super Match attack fan

A Suwon Bluewings fan who is alleged to have attacked an FC Seoul fan following the Super Match in Round 16 on June 19th, is facing a league-wide stadium ban According to Sports Seoul, said fan is "likely" to be banned from all stadiums in K League but a decision will be made by the K League at committee level after going over video footage and reports to detail what happened. Suwon manager Lee Byung-keun said: "I don't think that should happen to the K League again. There is no excuse. I was also very angry from my parents' point of view after watching the video. The fan who supports our team, but that should never happen."

[READ: 2022 K League 1 Round 20 Preview]

'Atmosphere much better after the changer in manager': Busan IPark's Park Jeong-in

Ricardo Peres departed Busan IPark and was replaced by Park Jin-sub, a former player and coach of the South Coast side. The change, according to Park Jeong-in speaking to InterFootball, has improved the atmosphere at the club no end. Park said: "In terms of communication, there's a difference. He likes to approach us first so the players are able to communicate a lot with him. The players can feel that the team is different."