South Korea’s football association has called on fans to cease "excessive personal attacks" on national team players amid growing speculation about internal conflicts following the team’s underwhelming performance at the recent World Cup. The Korea Football Association (KFA) issued the statement on October 13, expressing concern over the psychological toll such behaviour could have on the athletes.

The national team, which failed to progress beyond the group stage at the tournament held in North America, has been under scrutiny since head coach Hong Myung-bo resigned after the early exit. Spanish coach Robert Moreno is currently serving as interim manager and is awaiting a decision on whether his contract will be extended. With the AFC Asian Cup set to take place in Saudi Arabia in January, attention has turned to the team’s internal dynamics.

Local media outlets have reported allegations of discord within the squad, suggesting younger players feel constrained by senior members, including captain Son Heung-min. These reports have been fueled in part by an incident during a recent home match against Venezuela, when Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae expressed visible frustration by throwing his boots after being substituted. Kim later commented that “all players need to put their heads down and give it their all,” a remark interpreted by some as indicative of underlying tensions.

In their statement, the KFA condemned the spread of unverified information and speculative claims on social media and online forums that target individual players. The association characterized these attacks as exceeding the boundaries of fair criticism and urged supporters to avoid making assumptions regarding the team’s internal relationships.

The controversy follows a related public backlash over the conduct of certain players who secured military service exemptions by winning gold at the Asian Games. Critics accused some on the squad of celebrating in a manner that suggested military exemption was their primary motivation, prompting Defence Minister Kang Shin-chul to announce plans to review and potentially reduce such benefits.

As the South Korean national team prepares for upcoming competitions, the KFA’s appeal underscores the ongoing challenges facing the squad both on and off the field.