An unexpected situation occurred early in the season opener. The referee complained of muscle pain and was replaced.
Incheon United and FC Seoul met for their first matchup of the season on Feb. 28 in the 2026 Hana Bank K League 1 round 1 at Incheon Football Stadium.
The home team Incheon deployed a 4-4-2 system. Park Seung-ho and Mu Gosa formed the two forwards, and Oh Hu-seong, Seo Jae-min, Iker and Jerso handled the midfield. The defense was made up of Lee Ju-yong, Juan Ibiza, Kim Keon-hee and Kim Myeong-sun, and goalkeeper Kim Dong-heon guarded the goal. Lee Chung-yong was listed among the substitutes.
Seoul also responded with a 4-4-2. Anderson and Klimala stood at the front, while Song Min-kyu, Babez, Son Jeong-beom and Cho Young-wook formed the midfield. The defensive line was Kim Jin-su, Ross, Park Seong-hoon and Choi Jun, and the goalkeeper was Guseong-yoon.
A sudden variable emerged immediately after kickoff. Around the fourth minute of the first half, referee Lee Dong-jun signaled that he felt discomfort during the match and could no longer continue. Fourth official Song Min-seok then began procedures to substitute him.
The match was briefly halted and resumed after the referee was replaced.
According to the Korea Professional Football League (KPFL), referee Lee Dong-jun reportedly felt an abnormality in the muscles at the back of his thigh while tracking Jerso's movement in the early part of the first half. The specific injury status will be confirmed after halftime.
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