Hong Myung-bo, the head coach of the South Korean national team, has sharply criticized Bayern Munich, accusing the club of failing to provide adequate protection for Korean defender Kim Min-jae from injuries, which has led to his absence from the upcoming matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Before the match against Oman, the South Korean coach stated: "Bayern Munich did not properly protect Kim Min-jae regarding injury prevention; he is an extremely important player, not only for his club but also for our national team."

Kim Min-jae suffered an Achilles tendon injury, which caused him to miss Bayern Munich's 1-1 draw against Union Berlin in the Bundesliga. The Bavarian coach Vincent Kompany confirmed last week that the player would be sidelined for several weeks.

Hong Myung-bo added: "There are indications that Kim is suffering from recurring injuries, and we were fully aware of that."

The South Korean defender will miss his country's matches against Oman and Jordan in the next two rounds of the World Cup qualifiers, which poses a significant blow to the national team.