SHOCK: Coach Shin Tae-yong may face a permanent ban for slapping a player

Shin Tae-yong receives a severe disciplinary penalty from the KFA after the Ulsan HD incident, yet the exact punishment is kept confidential and does not currently impact Persija Jakarta.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) has decided to impose a severe disciplinary measure on Shin Tae-yong, related to the controversies during his tenure as head coach of Ulsan HD. However, the most critical detail remains undisclosed: the KFA has not revealed whether the South Korean manager has been suspended, banned from matches, or subjected to any other form of punishment.

A KFA official confirmed: “Recently, the Fairness Committee held a meeting and decided to discipline former coach Shin Tae-yong.”South Korean media emphasized this as a “heavy disciplinary action,” but the federation cited the sensitive nature of personal information to refuse disclosure of the specific content and duration.

Currently, it is still unconfirmed whether the “10-year ban” from coaching applies to Shin Tae-yong. However, it is possible that the actual penalty may approach the maximum allowed framework. The 10-year figure could be the upper limit in disciplinary regulations, or it could be the penalty currently under consideration.

The incident originated from the period when Shin Tae-yong took over Ulsan HD in August 2025. He left the position after only about two months, as the team declined and faced the risk of dropping to the bottom of the standings. Ulsan announced the termination of his contract on October 9, 2025, due to unsatisfactory results; allegations regarding his management of players only surfaced strongly afterward.

The focal point is a video from a team meeting, described by South Korean media as a scene of Coach Shin Tae-yong slapping center-back Jeong Seung-hyeonon the face. Ulsan players later publicly responded: “That image is not suitable for today’s era. The person who did it may not consider it an assault, but if the recipient feels assaulted, then it is an assault.”Jeong also stated that he was not the only one who felt that way.

On the other hand, Shin Tae-yong previously denied using intentional violence. He said: “If Jeong Seung-hyeon felt uncomfortable, I apologize.”and added: “If there truly was assault and insults, I would not continue as a coach.”.

After receiving the disciplinary notice, he further expressed: “There are many things that make me feel unjust, and I want to uncover the truth. But if I speak out, my players might be hurt, and the current domestic football situation is not good either.”Shin Tae-yong is reportedly still considering the possibility of requesting a review of the decision.

Notably, the KFA’s penalty currently only applies within the scope of South Korean football. Shin Tae-yong was appointed by Persija Jakarta in June 2026 and can still continue his work in Indonesia. However, the undisclosed penalty still casts a large shadow over his reputation, especially since the possibility of an appeal has not been finalized.

What happens next will depend on his own choice: to speak up and clarify all doubts, or to remain silent and let the story take its own course. And as everything remains open, Shin Tae-yong’s future is therefore still unclear.