In this round, a controversy related to referee decisions emerged again.

Jeonbuk Hyundai won 3-2 in a comeback victory against Pohang Steelers in the Hana Bank K League 1 2025 Round 22 match held at Pohang Steel Yard on the afternoon of the 19th.

With this victory, Jeonbuk secured first place in the league with 48 points (14 wins, 6 draws, 2 losses). In contrast, Pohang remained in 4th place with 32 points.

Pohang took the lead with Hong Yoon-sang's opening goal in the 31st minute of the first half and Lee Ho-jae's additional goal in the 44th minute, establishing momentum. In particular, Ki Sung-yong started the match as a starter, leading stable build-up play in the midfield and coordinating the offensive flow.

In the second half, Jeonbuk's counterattack unfolded. In the 19th minute of the second half, Lee Seung-woo ignited the spark of pursuit, and in the 35th minute of the second half, Thiago finished with a header from Kwon Chang-hoon's cross to equalize at 2-2. Just before the end of the match, during stoppage time in the second half, an own goal by Lee Ho-jae marked a dramatic comeback for Jeonbuk.

With this victory, Jeonbuk extended their unbeaten streak to 7 matches (6 wins, 1 draw) and once again proved their concentration at the end of the game. Ki Sung-yong was substituted out in the 31st minute of the second half, and he could not prevent the team from losing in his comeback match.

There was a scene in this match where fans engaged in a heated debate. This scene unfolded during Jeonbuk's attacking sequence in the 23rd minute of the second half.

After receiving a forward pass from Lee Young-jae, Jeon Jin-woo delivered the ball to Lee Seung-woo, who was penetrating into the box, and after touching the ball, Lee Seung-woo was brought down by Kim In-sung. This scene occurred inside Pohang's penalty box, and Jeonbuk fans claimed for a penalty kick. However, the referee passed on this scene without taking any action.

Immediately after, the broadcast replayed the slow-motion footage. Lee Seung-woo touched the ball and then sprang forward, during which Kim In-sung failed to touch the ball and struck Lee Seung-woo's ankle. Lee Seung-woo was clearly hit on the left ankle.

As a result, soccer fans engaged in a heated debate. One fan argued, "Since Kim In-sung clearly struck Lee Seung-woo's ankle without touching the ball during his possession of the ball, a penalty kick should have been called through Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review."

Of course, this view was not the only one. Another fan appealed, "It was not a decisive situation. There was room to interpret it as a contested situation. The referee can choose not to call a penalty kick at his discretion."

Both opinions received support from many fans and their 'recommendation counts' rose significantly.

Both opinions have merit. However, what was regrettable was that the referee did not communicate with the VAR room and did not directly observe the situation through an 'on-field review.'

Regardless of whether this decision directly affected the outcome of the match, it remains disappointing that the referee did not even go through a VAR review during a controversial scene. Given that more careful judgment and procedures are required at crucial moments, the 'lack of response' on this day left considerable discomfort among fans of both teams.

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