‘Unknown’ K-League steals limelight
Post-virus era starts with strict measures
SEOUL: The towering stands of the 42,477-capacity Jeonju World Cup Stadium stood empty yesterday as South Korea opened football’s postcoronavirus era without fans, but with an unprecedented international TV audience.
With most leagues worldwide sidelined by the pandemic, the K-League is the first competition of any standing to come back to life and a host of safety precautions have been imposed, with wild goal celebrations and even talking discouraged.
The long-delayed season-opener between defending champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Cupholders Suwon Samsung Bluewings were watched by sport-starved fans in a swathe of foreign countries, even though spectators are not yet allowed at K-League games.
Ahead of the match only the media section of the stadium, which hosted three matches of the 2002 World Cup, was occupied, and rather than cheers of anticipation, the only sound was chatter among journalists and staff.
Paper sheets taped to stadium seats spelled out “#C_U_SOON” and “STAY STRONG”, while one end was draped in a giant green banner for the Mad Green Boys, the Jeonbuk fan club.
The match, played under stringent safety guidelines, is the first glimpse of post-virus football and similar scenes are likely elsewhere as other leagues get underway.
All personnel entering the stadium had their temperatures checked and were required to wear facemasks, and hand sanitisers were located throughout the venue.
Players have been told to avoid excessive goal celebrations, handshakes, close talking and blowing their noses.
With fans around the world long deprived of live sport, the K-League has signed season-long rights deals with broadcasters who show games live in 36 countries and territories including Britain, Germany, and Australia.
The K-League, whose start was delayed two months by the Covid-19 pandemic, is also livestreamed on YouTube and Twitter with English graphics and commentary.
And the BBC secured a one-off deal for the opening match, which was livestreamed on its website.
“Football is back!” the British broadcaster proclaimed, noting it had been 59 days since the last Premier League match in March.
Jeonbuk won 1-0 thanks to Lee Dong-Gook’s 84th minute goal.
Last year, the K-League sold rights to only six countries, all of them in Asia.
“Because we had limited exposure to international fans, it is true that the K-League was largely unknown globally despite its competitiveness,” said league spokesman Lee Jong-Kwoun.
“2020 will be the first year the league will be recognised and assessed on a global level.”
The K-League’s progress will be watched closely by other leagues including the giants of Europe, where Germany’s Bundesliga is the continent’s only top-five league so far to set a date to return, on May 16.
Players and coaching staff will have their temperatures checked before each game and anyone at 37.5C (99.5F) or more will be isolated and tested.
If anyone gets infected during the season, their team and those who played against them will have to take a two-week break.
And instead of the traditional pregame handshakes, players have been asked to bow their heads from a distance.
The K-League said spectators will be allowed back into stadiums progressively as the government eases its distancing measures.
The new football season comes just three days after the return of professional baseball in South Korea, which has struck a television deal with ESPN for US fans.
Life in South Korea has returned largely to normal, with workers going back to offices this week under eased social distancing rules.