Supreme Court rules KFA coach registration ban invalid

The Supreme Court of Korea has ruled that a regulation by the Korea Football Association (KFA) prohibiting individuals with a one-year or longer suspension for violent behavior from registering as coaches is invalid.

The case originated from a university football coach who was issued a one-year suspension in 2022 after physically pushing a referee during a match. Following the suspension, the KFA refused his application to register as a coach, citing a revised regulation that restricts registration for those disciplined for violence.

While the court upheld the validity of the initial one-year disciplinary suspension, it ruled that the registration restriction was unconstitutional. The court noted that because the KFA oversees virtually all football competitions in South Korea, denying registration effectively prevents individuals from working in the profession indefinitely, thereby excessively restricting the freedom of occupation guaranteed by the constitution.