프로야구 심판들이 오심 논란에 이어 경기 중 관중에 폭행까지 당하며 수난시대를 맞고 있다.
30일 광주-기아 챔피언스필드에서 열린 KIA와 SK의 경기. 6회말이 끝나고 7회초 SK의 공격을 준비하던 도중 소란이 발생했다.
30대 초반의 남성 취객이 그라운드로 뛰어들어와 1루심을 보는 박근영 심판의 뒤를 덮쳐 목을 팔로 감고 나뒹구는 등 행패를 부린 것. 이 취객은 1루측 서프라이즈존의 철책을 넘어 경기장에 들어왔다.
SK 백재호 코치와 경호요원에게 제지당한 이 취객은 바로 그라운드 밖으로 끌려 나갔고 KIA는 이 취객을 경찰에 인도했다.
광주 경기는 3연전 첫날부터 오심 사건이 이어져 분위기가 뒤숭숭한 터였다.
29일 2루심을 보던 나광남 심판은 SK 조동화가 도루를 시도할 때 KIA 2루수 안치홍이 먼저 태그하는 것을 포착하지 못해 세이프를 선언했다.
나 심판은 다음 이닝 때 몸 상태가 좋지 않다는 이유로 대기심과 교체됐고, 30일 경기를 앞두고는 식중독이 악화해 입원했다.
이날도 6회 조동화의 2루수 땅볼 때 세이프 판정을 두고 선동열 KIA 감독이 달려나가 항의하는 상황이 또 벌어졌다.
이후 관중석에서는 여러 차례 야유가 터져나오기도 했다.
선동열 감독은 경기를 마치고 “경기 후반 불미스러운 일로 팬들께 심려를 끼쳐드려 죄송하다”고 말했다. (onlinenews@heraldcorp.com)
Baseball umpire assaulted by fan on heels of blown calls
A South Korean baseball umpire was assaulted on the field in midgame by an inebriated fan on Wednesday night, an unsavory incident adding a new twist to an ongoing controversy surrounding questionable officiating in the nation's top competition.
During a Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) game between the Kia Tigers and the SK Wyverns at the Tigers' home in Gwangju, about 330 kilometers south of Seoul, a male fan ran onto the field and jumped the first base umpire Park Keun-young from behind. The incident happened before the start of the top of the seventh.
The fan had climbed over the fence in the "Surprise Zone" from the first base side. The Tigers' brand new home, Gwangju-Kia Champions Field, features the Surprise Zone along the first base and the third base lines on the ground level for fans to enjoy the action from up close.
The Tigers don't place security guards in front of the Surprise Zone seats because they may block spectators' views.
The fan, later identified as a 30-year-old, wrapped his arm around Park's neck before the two were separated by SK's first base coach Back Jae-ho and a security guard.
The Tigers handed the fan over to local police.
The incident came on the heels of a series of questionable calls made during the three-game series.
In the series opener on Tuesday, second base umpire Na Gwang-nam called an SK runner safe on a steal attempt at second base, even though replays showed the runner was tagged before even touching the bag.
Na was later replaced by Park, who was an alternate, citing an illness. Na was hospitalized on Wednesday with food poisoning.
Also in Tuesday's game, home plate umpire Kwon Young-cheol called a hit-by-pitch on an SK hitter Na Ju-hwan, but replays later showed the pitch actually hit Na's bat on a check swing.
Then in the sixth inning on Wednesday, Park called an SK runner safe at first base on a bang-bang play as the Tigers tried to turn a double play. The throw appeared to beat the runner narrowly, according to replays.
The Tigers ended up winning the game 6-3. Their manager Sun Dong-yol apologized for "the unpleasant incident that caused our fans concern."
Incidentally, Park was involved in a highly controversial blown call last season that prompted his demotion to the Futures League, the KBO's minor league.
Park missed a force out at second base in a game between the Nexen Heroes and the LG Twins in Seoul on June 15 and called an LG runner safe, even though the player sliding into the bag was out by a substantial margin.
Park's was among a series of officiating mishaps that marred the KBO last season. Just about a month into the 2014 season, officiating has once again taken the center stage, prompting fans to call for expansion of the video review system.
Currently, the KBO allows video replay on home run calls only.
Frustrated fans and skeptics of the current state of officiating in the league believe the KBO should follow Major League Baseball
(MLB) and expand its replay to cover fair or foul calls and force play at bases.
Before the start of this season, KBO secretary general Yang Hae-young said the league would conduct feasibility studies on expanded video review and that the KBO would consider making the move by as early as 2015.
Earlier on Wednesday, two current KBO managers said the league should expand its video review.
Yeom Kyung-yup, manager of the Heroes, said the KBO should heed calls of its fans.
"Teams and fans alike want expanded video review," Yeom told reporters before the Heroes took on the Doosan Bears in Seoul on Wednesday. "I think the league should do it."
Yeom said he understood umpires constantly face scrutiny and it only makes their job more difficult.
"I think the umpires have become more nervous because they've come under the microscope in the midst of controversy," Yeom said.
"I think that has led to more mistakes. Umpires are human, too, and they can't be perfect."
Song Il-soo, manager of the Bears, agreed with Yeom that the KBO should expand its video review system, saying, "Since MLB has expanded it, I think we should do that, too." (Yonhap)