Suwon Samsung, one of the most popular clubs in professional soccer, suffered a shock relegation to the bottom of the K League 1 last season. The club had hoped to gain immediate promotion in the 2024 season and went on a spending spree in the summer transfer window, bringing in more than 10 new players.
However, Suwon’s promotion to the top flight was ultimately denied and they will remain in the second tier next year.
With FC Anyang clinching promotion this season by winning the K League 2 title, the last two remaining tickets to the promotion playoffs (PO) were claimed by 온라인카지노사이트 Jeonnam and Busan I-Park.
In K League 2, promotion PO tickets are awarded to the fifth-place finisher, and Suwon was fourth in K League 2 (56 points) the day before. They were two points ahead of fifth-placed Jeonnam and three points behind sixth-placed Busan I-Park, but were outscored by both teams. Under these circumstances, Suwon needed only one of fifth-ranked Jeonnam and sixth-ranked Busan to fail to win their final match to take the PO ticket.
However, both Jeonnam and Busan won in the final round on Sept. 9, and Suwon ended the season in sixth place, denying them promotion. Jeonnam moved up to fourth place (57 points) with a 4-0 win over Eland at Mokdong Sports Complex in Seoul.
Busan won 3-1 against Bucheon FC to clinch the final PO spot.
After failing to fulfill its promotion promise to fans, Suwon said on its official social media account, “We are very sorry for the result that did not meet the expectations of our fans,” adding, “We will thoroughly analyze and compensate for the shortcomings of this season and do our best to be promoted in 2025.”
Meanwhile, Jeonnam and Busan will meet in the K League 2 semi-finals at Gwangyang Stadium on Nov. 21. The winner of the match will host the PO against third-placed Eland on the 24th.
