Ji So-yeon (10th) complaining to referee Bae Sun-young during the WK League match between Suwon FC Women and Seoul City Hall. [Yonhap News] 사진 확대 Ji So-yeon (10th) complaining to referee Bae Sun-young during the WK League match between Suwon FC Women and Seoul City Hall. [Yonhap News]

Controversy is brewing over allegations that the referee made sexual harassment remarks against Ji So-yeon (Suwon FC Women), the league’s leading star, during the WK League match.

According to the sports industry on the 28th, in the 2026 WK League regular league between Suwon FC Women and Seoul City Hall held at Suwon Stadium, Ji So-yeon strongly protested to the judges during the first half and the game was suspended.

If you look at the live broadcast of the game on the Korean Women’s Football Federation YouTube channel, referee Bae Sun-young warned Ji So-yeon in the 30th minute of the first half, and Ji So-yeon went toward her team’s bench and explained something to the coaches and staff in a furious manner.

After that, the referee also headed toward the bench, and while talking to Suwon FC Women officials, Ji So-yeon continued to protest with a big gesture as if she were frustrated and unfair.

When Ji So-yeon couldn’t hold back her anger by throwing a water bottle, referee Bae even took out a red card but didn’t actually give it to her. After about four minutes of suspension, the game resumed.

After the game, Ji So-yeon said, “He’s sensitive from the beginning, as if referee Bae targeted him with wireless communication. He said he protested after hearing that he said, “I guess I’m menstruating.”

Ji So-yeon said, “I’ve complained a little since the opponent’s foul came out. Even in the situation in question, I was appealing and said that next to me. “When I heard that, I said, ‘Teacher, what did you just say? I said, ‘If you say that, it’s a sense of disciplinary action,’ and he explained, “He gave me a warning.”

Referee Bae, who is a woman, reportedly denied saying such a thing at first, but explained it to the effect that “it was just between us” as protests continued.

Ji So-yeon is a “living legend” who has recorded the most appearances and scores in both games by scoring 75 goals in 176 A matches for the women’s national soccer team.

Despite the controversy in the first half, he scored the come-from-behind winning goal in the 29th minute of the second half to lead Suwon FC to a 2-1 victory.

Ji So-yeon, who was unable to play in the 23rd round against Hwacheon KSPO on September 2 due to the warning she received in the match, said, “Isn’t it really something you shouldn’t say. “I think it’s wrong,” he said. “I think we should respect the referees, and I think the referees should respect us.”

Suwon FC Women’s Club is reportedly preparing to raise official issues with the Korean Women’s Football Federation.

An official from the Women’s Football Federation said, “The game supervisor has grasped the situation at the site, and a report will be prepared within 24 hours. We will request the Korea Football Association to read the surveyor’s report and the referee’s report and find out the details,” he said.