South Korean Media Says Shin Tae-yong's Rp. 1.6 Trillion Homecoming Fee Is Financed By Embassy, PSSI: Borne By His Family

Shin Tae-yong (Photo: PSSI)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Football Association (PSSI) stated that the return of South Korean national team coach Shin Tae-Yong to his country was purely the desire of the family, and the family has also agreed to finance it.

This explanation was conveyed by Acting Secretary-General of PSSI, Yunus Nusi responding to the oblique news about the condition of Shin Tae-Yong, who has now returned to his country to undergo recovery after being exposed to COVID-19.

"The embassy came to visit PSSI and immediately met me, Deputy Secretary-General of PSSI, Technical Director Indra Sjafri, and the national team doctor. The meeting took place on March 26, 2021," said Yunus as quoted by Antara, Monday.

During the meeting, it was stated that the family, namely the wife of Shin Tae Yong, asked PSSI for permission to invite the national team coach to return to South Korea first to undergo the healing and recovery process due to COVID-19.

"They (Shin Tae-Yong's family) at the same time told us that all costs incurred would be borne by the family, not the embassy, ​​as the information circulated," said Yunus.

He added that Jun's national team coach agent had also told the Acting Secretary-General of PSSI to bring Shin Tae-Yong home to South Korea.

"They made a statement stating that the financing for the return of the coach of the national team would be borne by the family," said Yunus.

According to him, there is a professional contract that must be respected each other, and Shin Tae-Yong's family can fully understand.

So far, he continued, PSSI has made every effort to be responsible for the condition of the national team coach, including financing Shin Tae-Yong's treatment while undergoing medical treatment at a hospital in Jakarta.

Previously, the South Korean news agency Yonhap said that PSSI did not pay for Shin Tae-Yong's return transportation to South Korea.

Shin Tae-Yong has tested negative for COVID-19 since last Friday, March 26 after being treated intensively for a week in a hospital in Jakarta. He also reportedly flew to South Korea on Saturday morning local time using an air ambulance.

The 51-year-old man will continue treatment in Seoul because his chronic illness has worsened.

Yonhap reported that Shin Tae-Yong paid for the cost of his own return by being facilitated by an air ambulance by the South Korean Embassy. Meanwhile, the cost of an air ambulance from Jakarta to Incheon Airport is estimated at 130 million won, equivalent to Rp. 1.6 billion.