Paulo Bento, coach of the Korean national soccer team, returns safely to the bench in the round of 16 match between Brazil and the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
The Korea Football Association announced on the 3rd (local time) that "there is no additional disciplinary action due to coach Bento's exit from the second leg of the group stage."
On the 28th of last month, coach Bento received a red card for protesting to the referee after the second leg of Group H (2-3 loss) in the group stage against Ghana.
At the end of the second half, when South Korea received a corner kick, referee Anthony Taylor ended the game as it was, and he was sent off for expressing his anger.
As a result, coach Bento watched the players play in the VIP seats without being able to keep the bench in the third game (2-1 win) against his home country Portugal on the 2nd, and head coach Sergio Costa led the team on his behalf.
This match could have been Bento's farewell match at the World Cup in Qatar, but Korea dramatically defeated Portugal and confirmed their advance to the round of 16 by finishing 2nd in the group even when the head coach was away.
Fortunately, the International Football Federation (FIFA) did not impose additional sanctions, and Bento was able to lead the players normally in the round of 16.
On the other hand, Bentoho, who will play the round of 16 three days after the group stage, decided to skip the stadium tour that each team can do once before the game.
The Korea Football Association explained, "According to the judgment that it is better for the players to take a break, we have decided not to proceed with a separate field trip."
(Photo = Yonhap News)