FC Seoul-Pohang game attracts huge crowd despite scandal

The area around Seoul World Cup Stadium saw severe traffic congestion Sunday as vehicles swarmed to the stadium from 5 p.m., two hours before a K-League soccer match between FC Seoul and the Pohang Steelers.

Like that of a day of an international match, roads around the stadium were filled with vehicles parked illegally.

More than 44,000 fans came to watch the K-League game, the second-highest figure this season after the season opener between FC Seoul and the Suwon Samsung Bluewings (51,606).

While the game ended in a 1-1 tie, FC Seoul attempted 14 shots at goal (8 on goal) and Pohang nine (six on goal) as their energetic play entertained fans.

Officials at soccer bodies including those of the K-League anxiously waited to see how many fans would come to the Sunday match. Many spectators would mean that fan disappointment over the match rigging scandal abated, while a small number would indicate continued resentment.

In an unusual move, the K-League tried to boost the mood by holding a news conference with the coaches of the two rival clubs. K-League staff were all smiles after seeing Sunday`s huge turnout.

Certain observers say, however, that it is too early to be optimistic about the situation after the scandal. Some 14,000 fans saw the Jeonbuk Hyundai-Gyeongnam FC match and 10,000 to a game between Ulsan Hyundai and Sangju Sangmu. The other five K-League games had less than 10,000 in attendance each, including just 2,000 each in games played in Daegu and Jeju Island.

Experts say the number of fans at one game does not mean that fan rage over the match rigging scandal has died down, urging the K-League and clubs should continue efforts to root out cheating over a long-term perspective.

yjongk@donga.com