Female Referee Bae Seonyoung's 'Girls Day' Remark Players Union: "Remove Sexually Harassing Referee Immediately"…Ji So-yeon Controversy Spreads

The Korean Professional Football Players Union has demanded the immediate dismissal and maximum-level disciplinary action against a referee who made sexually harassing remarks directed at Ji So-yeon of Suwon FC Women during a WK League women's football match.

The Players Union issued an official statement on the 31st, stating, "We designate this incident not as a simple judgment dispute but as a serious human rights violation that occurred on the pitch and an abuse of the referee's authority, and we call for the prevention of recurrence."

The incident occurred on the 28th during a 2026 WK League match between Suwon FC Women and Seoul City Hall at Suwon Sports Complex. During the first half around the 30-minute mark, when Ji So-yeon was receiving a caution from the referee, she strongly protested upon hearing through the referees' radio communication remarks to the effect of, "She's been sensitive from the start. Must be her period." The Korea Football Association's referee side initially explained that they had not used the word "period," but controversy intensified when it was confirmed that they actually used the expression "Girls Day," which is slang meaning menstruation.

Lee Geun-ho, who serves as co-chairman of the Players Union alongside Ji So-yeon, criticized, "The referee, who should protect players from closest proximity, instead inflicted indelible shame on a specific player in front of all players from both teams," and stated, "The act of wielding red cards as a weapon to abuse power in an attempt to cover this up is a horrific atrocity that cannot be tolerated in any professional league in the world."

The Players Union conveyed that players from the opposing team, Seoul City Hall, also heard the remarks. Kim Hoon-ki, Secretary General of the Players Union, said, "Seoul City Hall players were also greatly shocked, thinking 'Someday I might hear that remark directed at me,'" and added, "The urgent plea from the players is that a second or third Ji So-yeon incident could occur at any time."

The Players Union demanded the immediate removal of the referee from the pitch and referral to the Korea Sports Council's Sports Arbitration Commission to impose maximum-level disciplinary action. Additionally, it urged the Korea Football Association to immediately form an emergency task force and comprehensively overhaul the current referee operations system.

The controversy is expected to spread to the international football community. The Players Union stated, "The International Professional Football Association (FIFPRO) also designates this matter as a serious incident of gender violence and human rights violation and is closely monitoring the situation," and announced plans to coordinate with FIFPRO to share the matter with the International Football Federation (FIFA) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Meanwhile, due to accumulated cautions, Ji So-yeon will be unable to play in the match scheduled for the 2nd of next month, and Suwon FC is reportedly planning to request a fact-finding investigation.