r/asian_football

Winning the Gold medal at the Asian Games qualifies male athletes for the military service exemption. Following their win against Japan to win the Gold Medal at the 2026 Asian Games, several members of the Korean Men's National Soccer team stated that "Medals and wins do not matter, we were only playing for the military exemption".

The statements by the players sparked outrage and contempt across South Korea's general public. The expectation is that the athletes will take pride in representing their country, not playing for their personal gains. While some may say that the players were merely saying the quiet part out loud, the controversy has put the already controversial Arts and Sports Service Exemptions into spotlight.

‘They consider the Premier League’s actions to have an influence on the bilateral state relationship, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing undisclosed information.

The extraordinary pressure comes after Andy Burnham faced criticism, including from within government, for saying Man City’s Abu Dhabi owners should not be disqualified specifically because of the investment they bring to Britain.’