South Korean Footballer Banned For This Reason [Full Details + Photos]

South Korea defender Jang Hyun-soo has been banned from playing for the national team FOR LIFE and hit with a £20,527 fine after he faked his military service records.

All able-bodied South Korean men must complete almost two years military service as part of efforts to maintain a deterrent against the North.

But athletes can earn exemptions by winning a medal at the Olympics or gold at the Asian Games just as Spurs star Son Heung-min did this year.

As part of the exemption conditions, athletes must undergo four weeks of basic military training and undertake more than 500 hours of community service over a three-year period.

Jang, who has 58 caps and was part of the team that won gold at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, has admitted to submitting false records detailing how many hours of community service he has performed.

The Korea Football Association met on Thursday to decide how to punish the 27-year-old, who played in all three of Korea’s games at the World Cup in Russia.

A KFA spokesperson said: “Jang has been permanently disqualified from playing for the national team and has been fined 30 million won.”

In addition to the KFA sanction, the Sports Ministry has given Jang an additional five days of compulsory service. Jang, who will now miss the Asian Cup in January, had apologised on Monday and said he would undertake the required community service.

He was quoted as saying on the KFA website: “I am sorry to have disappointed everyone for such a shameful issue.”