Yun’s absence concerns Hong

With an English club refusing to release a South Korean defender for his pre-World Cup camp, national team head coach Hong Myung-bo on Thursday expressed concern that the situation might have further negative impact on other overseas-based players.

Yun Suk-young of Queens Park Rangers had been scheduled to report to South Korea’s camp at the National Football Center here in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday.

The second-division English club, however, has yet to send him over, with a promotion playoff final against Derby County on May 24.

Yun was named to South Korea’s 23-man roster for this year’s World Cup in Brazil last week.

The winner of the playoff will earn a promotion to the top-flight Premier League for next season.

According to the Korea Football Association, the South Korean football governing body, QPR hopes to keep Yun on board for the crucial match.

However, under FIFA’s regulations for this year’s World Cup, the final match day at club level for those who made their national World Cup roster is May 18. FIFA’s mandatory rest period for such players is from May 19 to 25.

“Any special exemptions may only be granted by the FIFA Executive Committee,” FIFA’s regulations state, adding that such rules have been established “to protect players from burn-out” before the World Cup.

Against this backdrop, Hong said QPR’s refusal to send Yun may set “a bad precedent” for other overseas clubs with South Korean players.

For instance, three players from the Chinese Super League have been named to the South Korean squad: defender Kim Young-gwon of Guangzhou Evergrande and midfielders Ha Dae-sung of Beijing Guoan and Park Jong-woo of Guangzhou R&F.

Ha is scheduled to arrive in South Korea on Sunday, followed by Park and Kim on Monday. Their respective clubs have league matches scheduled next Wednesday and Thursday.

“The Chinese clubs had earlier said they would send our players on May 25, but we convinced those teams to release the players earlier,” Hong said. “If Yun reports to the camp late, then it could set a bad precedent.” (Yonhap)