Reporter Lee Hyung-joo = Hwang In-beom (26)’s career could depend on the interpretation of voters.
Hwang In-Beom is the nucleus of the South Korean national team’s midfield. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, he was a key part of Paulo Bento’s central midfield and helped South Korea reach the round of 16. Hwang was also a standout for his club Olympiacos, where he was regarded as one of their best players.
However, on 11 August, Hwang was left out of the team’s crucial Europa League third qualifying round first leg against KRC Hengk. The unspecified exclusion of a key member of the team was likely due to something other than injury. And that turned out to be the case.
On the 11th, Greek media outlet Gazeta Greece reported, “Something sudden happened with Hwang In-beom. According to the club, Hwang In-beom will leave the club without fulfilling the remaining two years of his contract. This is unacceptable to the club and is considered unprofessional behaviour. The club has made it clear that no player is above the team and will meet with the player’s representative through the club’s lawyers,” the report said.
Of course, the media outlet was representing the club’s side, but at least we can see the elements of conflict between Hwang and Olympiacos. It’s a difference in interpretation of Hwang’s contract.
In March 2022, Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), through its council, granted temporary free agent status to foreign players playing in Russia and Ukraine. This was due to the outbreak of war following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which put players in an environment where their safety was not guaranteed, especially foreign players who were not involved in the conflict. It was announced to be valid until 30 June 2022, and was later extended for another year.
In March 2022, Hwang In-beom was playing for Russian club Rubin Kazan, so he was able to terminate his contract and move to another team to avoid the threat of war. Desperate to play for a team for the World Cup, Hwang joined FC Seoul in April 2022. He played there for about three months before signing with Olympiakos in July.
Olympiakos did not disclose the length of his contract at the time of his signing, but Greek media reported that it was for three years. Hwang signed a three-year contract with Rubin Kazan in 2020. This is where the controversy comes in.
Hwang’s camp believes that he is eligible for temporary free agency because he was transferred to FC Seoul and Olympiakos under the special circumstances of war while his contract with Rubin Kazan was still in effect, meaning that his three-year contract with Olympiakos is a 1+2-year contract. Olympiakos, on the other hand, would be considered a full three-year contract.
The two sides are at loggerheads, and the case is likely to go to FIFA for a ruling. The outcome of the case will likely depend on whether Hwang is recognised as a restricted free agent until June 2023.
Of course, there may still be undisclosed information that will play a role in the case. It is also possible that the legal outcome of the case could be different depending on how the two sides drafted the contract.카지노사이트
However, based on the current state of affairs, it is clear that the outcome will have a significant impact on Hwang’s career. If the club wins the case, Hwang is in a tough spot. The club may not want to keep him, or even if they do, he could be stuck at Olympiakos for the most important two years of his career, unable to make the leap. It’s a situation that can have a huge impact on a player’s career, for better or worse.