K League, KBO games back to behind closed doors due to COVID-19 outbreak
- 4 years ago
K리그, KBO 무관중 전환
Time now for 'This Week in Sports' and for that we have our Sports editor Paul Neat with us in the studio. The raised level of social distancing in the Seoul capital area, as well as in other parts of the country, means that sports events will again be off limits to supporters. Paul, not the news sports fans will have been wanting to hear?
No, certainly not. Just last week we were talking about 25% capacity allowances. But now, six of the 10 KBO clubs have been forced to close their stadiums again following the recent government announcement. The teams in question are those based in Seoul, Incheon, Busan and Gyeonggi-do Province. Then on Tuesday, Hanwha Eagles, NC Dinos, and Samsung Lions announced that they will close too but on a voluntary basis.
That made nine, but then KIA Tigers became the tenth. The club said that, along with the city of Gwangju, they are "taking a preemptive step". In short, all 10 KBO clubs will be playing behind closed doors for the foreseeable future.
Worrying times. What's the situation in K League? I understand that some matches this weekend will still have fans?
Yes, some but not many. Taking into account both K League divisions, a total of 10 teams have no choice but to play behind closed doors. The clubs affected, again, are those in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do Province, Incheon, and Busan. However, much like KBO, some clubs will close on a voluntary basis - namely Daegu FC and Gwangju FC.
But, as you say, some remain open for now. Jeonbuk's match with Sangju and Gangwon vs Daegu in K League 1, as well as Jeju United vs Ansan Greeners in K League 2 will have fans in the stands this weekend. But, Jeonbuk announced on Thursday that the capacity allowance has been reduced to 10% from 25%.
There are some clubs based in areas of the country which are NOT subject to strict social distancing, such as Daejeon, Ulsan, and Pohang among others but they are all away from home this weekend so no statements have been made yet.
What are the financial implications of all this?
Potential wage cuts. K League proposed 10% wage cuts to players earning a base salary of more than 30-thousand U.S. Dollars per year but the players' union balked at this suggestion and says it will make sure that it doesn't come to that.
Over to Europe, France's Ligue 1 ( /Ligue Un) is set to kick off this weekend, despite some COVID-19 problems of their own...
Four Marseille players tested positive for COVID-19 meaning that the season opener with St. Etienne on Friday has been called off. However, the rest of the league will start as normal, including Hwang Ui-jo and his Bordeaux teammates who take on Nantes on Saturday. The French league was cancelled in April but Hwang Ui-jo made a good start to life in Europe, scoring six goals and registering two assists in 24 appearances...
Time now for 'This Week in Sports' and for that we have our Sports editor Paul Neat with us in the studio. The raised level of social distancing in the Seoul capital area, as well as in other parts of the country, means that sports events will again be off limits to supporters. Paul, not the news sports fans will have been wanting to hear?
No, certainly not. Just last week we were talking about 25% capacity allowances. But now, six of the 10 KBO clubs have been forced to close their stadiums again following the recent government announcement. The teams in question are those based in Seoul, Incheon, Busan and Gyeonggi-do Province. Then on Tuesday, Hanwha Eagles, NC Dinos, and Samsung Lions announced that they will close too but on a voluntary basis.
That made nine, but then KIA Tigers became the tenth. The club said that, along with the city of Gwangju, they are "taking a preemptive step". In short, all 10 KBO clubs will be playing behind closed doors for the foreseeable future.
Worrying times. What's the situation in K League? I understand that some matches this weekend will still have fans?
Yes, some but not many. Taking into account both K League divisions, a total of 10 teams have no choice but to play behind closed doors. The clubs affected, again, are those in Seoul, Gyeonggi-do Province, Incheon, and Busan. However, much like KBO, some clubs will close on a voluntary basis - namely Daegu FC and Gwangju FC.
But, as you say, some remain open for now. Jeonbuk's match with Sangju and Gangwon vs Daegu in K League 1, as well as Jeju United vs Ansan Greeners in K League 2 will have fans in the stands this weekend. But, Jeonbuk announced on Thursday that the capacity allowance has been reduced to 10% from 25%.
There are some clubs based in areas of the country which are NOT subject to strict social distancing, such as Daejeon, Ulsan, and Pohang among others but they are all away from home this weekend so no statements have been made yet.
What are the financial implications of all this?
Potential wage cuts. K League proposed 10% wage cuts to players earning a base salary of more than 30-thousand U.S. Dollars per year but the players' union balked at this suggestion and says it will make sure that it doesn't come to that.
Over to Europe, France's Ligue 1 ( /Ligue Un) is set to kick off this weekend, despite some COVID-19 problems of their own...
Four Marseille players tested positive for COVID-19 meaning that the season opener with St. Etienne on Friday has been called off. However, the rest of the league will start as normal, including Hwang Ui-jo and his Bordeaux teammates who take on Nantes on Saturday. The French league was cancelled in April but Hwang Ui-jo made a good start to life in Europe, scoring six goals and registering two assists in 24 appearances...