On a cold night in the South Korean city of Daegu, dejected Gwangju FC players, with their Twitter names printed on the backs of their shirts, bowed to their small band of traveling fans in apology for becoming the first team to be relegated in the K-League’s 30-year history.
In order to fulfill the AFC Champions League criteria, the K-League introduced relegation in 2012 to a revamped second tier. Also at the Asian Football Confederation’s behest, military club Sangju Sangmu was automatically demoted a decision that caused Sangju to boycott the final third of the season in protest.
Gwangju had been battling with Gangwon FC and Daejeon Citizen to avoid the other relegation spot, but lost the penultimate game of the season.
The poor performance came despite a squad that includes South Korea international Lee Seung-gi and other highly rated players such as Park Ki-dong and Kim Dong-seob.
Gwangju started the season reasonably well but soon sank to the bottom. (AP)
