South Korea to Inspect Soccer Pitches After Son's Criticism
Following Son Heung-min’s criticism of poor pitch conditions that affected recent World Cup qualifiers, South Korea’s sports ministry has announced inspections of 27 stadiums starting in April and a collaborative effort with the K League to improve field standards.
Published on March 28, 2025
South Korea’s sports ministry has announced a review of soccer pitches across the nation following national team captain Son Heung-min’s candid criticism. Son, who pointed to substandard pitch conditions as a key factor behind the team's underwhelming performance in recent home World Cup qualifiers, noted that matches had been moved from Seoul to regional cities such as Goyang and Suwon with little improvement in conditions.
In response, the ministry is set to work with the K League and local stadium management to establish improved maintenance systems to ensure optimal playing surfaces. Inspections of 27 stadiums are scheduled to begin in April, as reported on March 27, 2025, with the hope that these measures will bolster game quality and overall team performance in future competitions.