39 – Fair Play
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In reality, disputes over judgment are an unavoidable aspect of any competition.
No matter how much the organizers emphasize fairness, it’s impossible to control each and every referee, and from the perspective of the judged, even judgments thought to be fair by the referees may feel biased.
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Ultimately, this is an unavoidable result because ‘fair judgment’ lacks an absolute standard and can only be relative.
How can one quantify and judge who put their shoulder in first, how hands were used, and where the push came from in a competition?
Just as judgments vary depending on an individual’s financial situation and position, referees, being human, are bound to be influenced by various factors such as the game situation, atmosphere, and personal preferences.
For this reason, there is a clear tendency for ‘slightly more’ favorable judgments to be given to the home team.
Of course, this is based on the clear distinction between home and away in professional leagues, but does it really differ in international competitions?
Even the World Cup, touted as a festival of global unity, couldn’t escape this tendency.
While the concept of home and away is weaker compared to professional leagues, there still existed a host country premium. Any host of the World Cup, regardless of the size of the advantage, benefited from home advantage.
However, as rare as it is for a competition to be as intense and for an advantage to be as pronounced as in this tournament, especially in the case of China.
It may not be as extreme as the 1938 Italy World Cup or the 1978 Argentina World Cup, but this is the 21st century, not the 20th.
Certainly, things have changed because it’s the 21st century.
However, it’s not to the extent of bringing in players from the opposing team or resorting to mass extermination.
Even for China, it’s not something that happens in the 21st century.
They make it more subtle and cunning, creating issues in a more discreet manner.
For instance, while China might overlook the same play, Japan would invoke a foul, and in similar situations, China would receive a verbal warning, whereas Japan would draw a card.
Despite facing the already robust China, Japan did its best. Even with one player ejected in the first half and ten players running tirelessly until the end, they didn’t give up, but the result was disheartening.
Japan’s pain was so profound that even neighboring rival Korea, considered their own happiness, couldn’t help but say, “Oh, this is a bit…”
This defeat was the catalyst that brought together Korea and Japan, who were essentially enemies, to form a supporters’ alliance.
Hotaru Daijo, despite being the ace of the Japanese national team and enjoying immense popularity, garnered such a fervent response with just one social media post due to this background.
The supporters’ alliance of Korea and Japan gathered under the name “Supporters’ Alliance for the Promotion of Friendship and Cooperation between Korea and Japan,” filling the stadium.
Rows of seats dyed in red and blue.
Of course, more than half of the red supporters were from China, but from a distance, the Korea-Japan solidarity was a great success.
As netizens from both countries watched videos of the stadium, they couldn’t help but be moved by this miraculous alliance.
—So, this is coexisting with the enemy.
—Wow… Korean brothers are reliablewww.
—Tease the Japanese kids a bit lol.
—Kya~ A Korea-Japan alliance, it’s really cool.
—The Korean army and the Japanese navy are invinciblewwwwww, unbeatable against the likes of Chinawwww.
—What about the air force?
—Let’s leave that to the Americans.
—So, what’s the name of the supporters? Not Red Devils, not Samurai Blue either.
—It’s something like the Korea-Japan Friendship…thing.
—That’s too long, not using it lol.
—Then?
—SenCon (Senkou Yonhap).
By the way, on the internet, they are called “SenCon.”
* * *
Even before the start of the game, amidst the passionate atmosphere of the stadium, Juji Tae listened to the crowd.
“Wipe out those Jap bastards!!”
“Juji-san, you’re awesome~~~”
“Nichee Pallerma~!”
Indeed, the power of sports is remarkable.
From Korean to Japanese and even Chinese. The fact that the three countries of East Asia can harmonize so beautifully is truly heartwarming.
“Step forward.”
The referee calls out the captains for the coin toss.
Today’s referee is Mohammad Abdulhamad Salim from Saudi Arabia.
“What’s with this Guan Yu look-alike?”
He was a nobleman with a disgustingly long beard as dirty as his lengthy name.
Since the mid-20s, Saudi Arabia had been overtly displaying a pro-China stance. Even now, after 31 years, the country is famously glued to China like a perfect match.
Although there’s a whiff of bias from the referee assignment,
“As you all know, facing China can be quite frustrating. The referees might favor them often. But there’s no need to worry too much.”
Just before the game, Coach Jang Ki-seok emphasized that there’s no need to worry.
“With the controversy over the biased officiating in the Japan match, many eyes are on this game. It’s a big deal when it comes to facing China. They live and die for their reputation. They won’t be reckless like before. So, don’t worry too much, but always maintain composure and calmness.”
The coach said so, but… well, will it really be that way?
While it’s true that China lives and dies for its reputation, the so-called major power will aim for victory this time rather than saving face.
In the past, they might have cared about external perceptions, especially from the European perspective. But in 2031, China is already treated as an empire of malice, and it seems they are slowly giving up on such image-making.
After all, the basic mindset of China is to win, isn’t it?
Above all, recalling China from the first round…
“We should be prepared for at least the level of dirtiness we faced in the Japan match.”
In the first round, barely making it to the Round of 16 as the third in the group, the opponent was different.
It wasn’t Italy but China. However, China defeated Italy and advanced to the quarterfinals. In the process, biased officiating sparked a massive anti-China protest.
It was to the extent that terrorism against Chinese people occurred in Italy.
After going through twists and turns, the opponent they faced in the quarterfinals was Brazil. People were pleased that justice was served, but… well, the conclusion was that justice was served because Brazil won.
However, even amidst the chaos of anti-China sentiment in Europe, they played dirty soccer against Brazil, even trying to manipulate biased officiating until the very end. Perhaps Brazil gained one expulsion and two injured players in exchange for their victory.
“So, there’s a greater chance that they will resort to dirty tactics rather than come out sportsmanlike against us.”
But who knows?
Whether China will truly come to their senses and play fair.
Therefore, Ju Ji-tae harbored a slight sense of anticipation as he awaited the start of the match.
Beep!
The game began with the whistle of the referee, and Korea’s offense, carrying a 3-4-3 formation, once again took the field. With three attackers and Park Hye-chan leading the way in the center, Cho Jae-shin and Yoo Ki-tae initiated the passing game to mark the beginning of the match.
“Slowly, slowly! Take it easy and play patiently! We have plenty of time!”
“Ji-tae! Spread out a bit more!”
The line gradually ascended toward the Chinese territory.
At the moment when Chinese players, who had been observing Korea’s advances, rushed forward in unison,
“Ah… Well, that’s how it is.”
Joo Ji-tae realized that perhaps his suspicions were not unfounded.
What fair play from China? It was clear from the aggressive momentum, surpassing roughness from the start, that they didn’t care about cards and were determined to charge forward.
“Jo Jae-shin! Jump!!”
Just by witnessing such tackles early in the game, it was evident.
Hearing Joo Ji-tae’s shout, Jo Jae-shin jumped in time, but he couldn’t completely evade the tackle. Soon, he collided with the Chinese player, falling over.
“Foul! Hey, Ref! Foul!”
Fortunately, it seemed Jo Jae-shin wasn’t injured, as he quickly got up and shouted, but the referee just glanced and signaled the game to continue.
Of course, before the referee’s hands could reach forward, the Chinese players were already rushing towards the Korean territory like a swarm.
Even though one should assume an in-play situation until the referee intervenes, the fact that every player moved aggressively without any hesitation after such a tackle meant they were anticipating this kind of situation.
Joo Ji-tae chuckled.
“I knew it would be like this with these guys.”
On the other hand, Korea was different.
As inexperienced young players, despite being emphasized during training, most of the Korean players stopped their movements at the clearly foul tackle.
It was obvious to anyone that it was a tackle intended to cause harm, so a foul was a given, and at least a yellow card, if not a red card, could be expected.
In such a situation, continue the game?
They knew it in their heads, but in the unfamiliar situation, the confused Korean players, unable to maintain composure, allowed the Chinese players to enter the danger zone.
“I’ll break it up!!”
At that moment, including Joo Ji-tae, a few players who continued to play despite the tackle, like captain Song Hoon, collided with the Chinese player possessing the ball with a rough charge.
The Chinese player tumbled harshly on the ground.
Then, as if waiting, the whistle blew, and the referee’s hand raised a yellow card.
“Ah, damn.”
It was good that they didn’t stop the play, but Song Hoon, unable to maintain his composure until the end, finally realized the situation and closed his eyes tightly.
“Ha. Sorry, guys.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. You stopped it well.”
It would have been blocked on its own, but it wasn’t the time to say that here.
Joo Ji-tae patted the captain on the back, offering comfort.
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“Let’s all get ourselves together! We’re going to come out stronger than in the Japan match. Are we going to play the game like this? Even Japan asked for revenge, and even if they’re enemies, if someone requests revenge, we should deliver. Don’t you think?”
“Hey, who’s the one not responding! Our youngest is speaking!”
“The East Asian Tower is ours. If we defeat China, who broke Japan, aren’t we the Tower?”
“Those Chinese guys come out so damn annoying. Can’t even sleep because of the tension. Let’s win this for sure.”
At Ju Ji-tae’s shout, the players finally raised their voices.
“Oh, but revenge won’t make us the same. Everyone knows, right? The judgment is against us. We have to play fair. Fair play!”
Song Hoon glanced at the yellow badge on his arm. It was indeed too heavy.
“Captain, take your position.”
With the referee’s urging, the situation was sorted out, and the game resumed with China’s free kick.
Ju Ji-tae spoke to the Chinese player next to him.
“Hey. Fair play, fair play! Okay?”
“Fair play?”
The guy who had been staring blankly grinned and nodded.
Amidst the noisy Chinese chatter.
‘Taiwan’s number one, damn.’
Boom!
China’s free kick towards the penalty area was blocked by the goalkeeper, bouncing outwards. Ju Ji-tae, who reacted faster than anyone else, grabbed the ball just as the Chinese player rushed towards him.
The guy who had just suggested fair play.
Ju Ji-tae, trying to shake him off with a light drag back, soon realized something was off. The guy, at the same speed he had been running, started leaning towards the ground.
‘Tackle?’
And it was a well-executed sliding tackle.
‘Caught you well, you bastard.’
Pretending not to notice, he casually nudged the ball forward, preparing to kick it far away.
At the precise moment when the guy skillfully deflected the ball, Ju Ji-tae’s full-powered shot headed straight for his leg.
Thud!
“Aaargh!”
‘Fair play, my ass. What a fake, you idiot.’
Seeing the scene from a distance, Cho Jae-shin muttered like a groan.
“Said let’s play fair…”
