I didn’t gamble on illegal sports

The reason for termination of the contract was that he had engaged in illegal sports gambling three years ago. It is illegal for players, coaching staff and team members to gamble on sports in all sports. He may be involved in game fixing to make money from gambling. Moreover, it seemed natural to terminate the contract as Kim Jae-bong said he had engaged in illegal sports gambling.

However, according to subsequent investigations, Kim was not charged with sports gambling at all. After 100 days of police investigation after termination of his contract with Gwangju FC, which had been running well, Kim was given a charge of insufficient evidence by the Gwangju Seobu Police Station. According to a police official, the “National Sports Promotion Act” refers to allegations of sports gambling.

In fact, there was a report on illegal sports gambling against Kim Jae-bong, but the police ended it with insufficient evidence. While investigating after being accused, Kim Jae-bong’s soccer life for 20 years was ruined and he was stigmatized as a “player who was cut off from illegal sports gambling.”

Kim Jae-bong, who played for Ansan Greeners, Jeju United, and Gwangju FC after making his professional debut through Seongnam FC in 2018, was a rare left-footed defender with 188 centimeters of physique and a hot “master” coach Nam Ki-il and Lee Jung-hyo, who moved to different teams. He also won the K League 2 twice, and was considered the core of Lee Jung-hyo’s soccer.

Kim Jae-bong said, “I will confess honestly. I did go to a holdump pub and gamble. However, I did not gamble on sports. I apologize and reflect on my efforts to gamble on sports, but it is unfair that I lost my reputation and was kicked out for something I did not do.”

Kim Jae-bong is currently serving in the K4 League’s social service and is active in the Seoul Jungnang Football Team. The Korea Football Association also confirmed through Sports Korea that “Kim Jae-bong has no disciplinary history, so he has been registered as a player without any problems and is currently playing for the Jungnang Football Team.” Given that players with problems such as crime or disciplinary action cannot be registered with the Korea Football Association, the fact that he is currently affiliated with the Seoul Jungnang Football Team also proves Kim Jae-bong’s refusal.

Then, why was Kim Jae-bong terminated from Gwangju FC on August 1, 2023. “It is because of a conflict with A, who is a senior at the school. I had a friction with A, who lived together and was on the same team, over money. We exchanged harsh words,” he said. “A player who was vindictive about that issue made me report to Gwangju FC by taking advantage of my gambling in general, including a holdup, since COVID-19.”

Kim Jae-bong said, “Honestly, I thought it was a big mistake to gamble in general, and I was very scared that I would not be able to play soccer anymore because of this.” So, he believed that he would save his life if he did so, and wrote a memorandum as the player said. The memorandum also included the content of ‘illegal sports gambling,’ which rather proved that he ended his contract with Gwangju. It was foolish, but at the time, I didn’t want to quit playing soccer, so I wanted to do anything when he said that he would save me. But that held me back.”

“I thought ‘Do you admit it’ meant ‘admit it’ to Gwangju FC, so I answered ‘yes’, but I never thought it meant ‘do you admit illegal sports gambling?'” said Kim Jae-bong, who said, “I quit my contract with Gwangju and left the team, and the next day, there was an article about me as a player who illegally gambling sports. At that time, I was in a situation where I couldn’t even defend myself.”

“I am still in the process of filing a civil suit to receive money that I lent to A,” Kim said. “I know that hold-dump pubs were a problem for all walks of life last year, but I have also been gambling since the COVID-19 days, leaving my duty as a soccer player behind. I clearly reflect on myself and have no excuses for this. Now that I have completed my military duty without gambling, I will return to being a soccer player and focus on soccer.”

“I heard that a player from a certain team in the K-League is receiving similar threats from the person who reported me,” Kim Jae-bong said. “I am standing in front of the media hoping that no other victims like me will come out,” adding, “If I want to hold anyone back from this incident that ended in failure again, I will now take strong legal action. It has already been painful enough. No one should suffer the same damage again.”

Kim Jae-bong said, “I learned something from the fact that I had to work hard to get a contract from a team that I used to play fine on charges of illegal sports gambling and was investigated by the police. There is a meaning to existence when I am a soccer player.”

“I played soccer for 20 years with my parents’ support, but now I am a player who has been stigmatized for illegal sports gambling. If I can get rid of this stigma, I want to do anything. I hope you know that I am not a player who played illegal sports gambling. I want to recover my physical strength, regain my performance, and come back to the K-League next summer after being called up from the Jungnang Football Team.”

BY: 스포츠토토핫