Newcastle United, embroiled in the 'Rising Sun Flag controversy,' is set to earn big money in Korea.
The Premier League team Newcastle will hold a friendly match against Team K League as part of the Coupang Play Series 2025 at Suwon World Cup Stadium on the evening of the 30th. Newcastle will face the national club Tottenham in a second match at Seoul World Cup Stadium on August 3.
The thought of seeing a Premier League team at home has generated significant interest among domestic fans. Tickets for the match against Team K League sold out in just 30 minutes. Tickets for the match featuring superstar Son Heung-min's Tottenham sold out in only 15 minutes.
The issue arose next. Newcastle revealed its third uniform, created in collaboration with Adidas, through its official social media on the 2nd. However, the video sparked controversy when a fan, presumed to be Japanese, waved a Newcastle flag depicting the Rising Sun Flag. The flag, inscribed with 'NUFC JAPAN,' is black and white but is clearly made for Japan.
The club, which intends to tour Korea, has shown a profound ignorance of Korea's history and has committed a significant faux pas. Newcastle used the Rising Sun Flag, a symbol of Japanese militarism, in its uniform promotion. While they issued a brief apology, a significant wound remains in the hearts of the fans.
Newcastle stated, 'We received reports that a flag that could cause discomfort appeared in the video. We immediately edited the video. We apologize for any discomfort caused.' However, the sincerity of the apology is questionable. According to reports from the Northern Echo, Newcastle had previously organized a large card section cheer featuring the Rising Sun Flag during a home game in May.
Among some fans, there are movements to boycott Newcastle's matches in Korea. However, this is a delicate issue as Team K League and Tottenham, the opposing teams, could suffer. Considering Tottenham's popularity, it seems unlikely that fans will cancel their tickets.
The Korea Professional Football League stated on the 3rd, 'Using the war flag is wrong. However, as this was a simple mistake and there were quick follow-up actions such as deletion and an apology, we foresee no significant impact on the Coupang Play Series.'
Ultimately, the match between Newcastle and Team K League is expected to proceed as planned. It is certain that the club, which used the Rising Sun Flag for promotion and organized cheers, will earn significant money in Korea.
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