Vice Chairman Kim Byung-ji and coach Bento met at the airport… expression [곽경훈의 현장]

[마이데일리 = 인천공항 곽경훈 기자] ‘It was an insignificant expression’

The Korean national football team returned to Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of the 7th after achieving the feat of reaching the round of 16 for the second time in history.

The football team entered Korea in two groups. The initial team, which included 14 players and coaches such as Kwon Chang-hoon and Na Sang-ho, returned to Korea via Dubai, and the rest of the players, including coach Bento and Son Heung-min, started as latecomers.

Around 1,000 fans flocked to Incheon International Airport two hours before the players returned home. The fans prepared bouquets of flowers, costumes, and cheers for the players.

Officials from the Korean Football Association were also busy before the players arrived. Among them, Kim Byeong-ji, vice president of the Korea Football Association, and Park Kyung-hoon, executive director of the Korea Football Association, stood out. They both arrived at the arrivals hall 30 minutes before the arrival of the players and had a serious conversation.

Kim Byung-ji, Vice Chairman of the Korea Football Association, appeared on CBS Radio’s ‘Kim Hyun-jung’s News Show’ on the 6th and said, “There were actually a lot of concerns about Bentoho in preparation for the 4th year .” Lee Yi-seo said, “If Bento is stubborn, he would be stubborn, but I thought that strategy would work in the World Cup,” making comments that seemed to disparaged coach Bento, earning the ire of football fans.

It was a dark expression as if he was aware of such a division. At 5:50 pm, when coach Bento and the players entered the lobby, Kim Byeong-ji, vice president of the Korea Football Association, shook hands with coach Bento and exchanged greetings.

Coach Bento shook hands with a chic expression, not knowing if he knew what the Vice President of the Korea Football Association, Kim Byung-ji, had said about him, and then moved on. In particular, the two did not have much of a conversation.

▲ Vice Chairman Kim Byeong-ji and Managing Director Park Gyeong-hoon speak.

▲ The football team players take a final memorial photo with coach Bento.

Chung Mong-gyu, president of the Korea Football Association, coach Bento, and captain Son Heung-min greeted the fans with microphones.

Son Heung-min said, “Thanks to the support of the fans, we were able to play a good game in the World Cup. We will not stop here, but we will become a team that develops further.”

The members of the football team finished after taking a commemorative photo and interviewing reporters.

[벤투 감독 ‘폄하 논란’을 일으킨 김병지 대한축구협회 부회장과 벤투 감독이 인천국제공항 입국장에서 악수를 하고 있다. 사진 = 곽경훈 기자 kphoto@mydaily.co.kr]

Reporter Kwak Gyeong-hoon kphoto@mydaily.co.kr

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