Seoul E-Land FC players take a moment during a hydration break during a K League 2 match against Hwaseong FC at Hwaseong Stadium in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, Aug. 7. Courtesy of Korea Professional Football League
The advocacy group for professional football players on Thursday called on the top domestic league to switch to the fall-spring schedule to better protect its athletes during summer.
In a statement, the Korea Pro-Footballer's Association (KPFA) said the K League must do away with the current spring-fall calendar because it leaves players exposed to severe summer heat.
"The K League must transition to the fall-spring schedule to protect players from the worsening climate crisis and punishing summer heat, and to maintain the league's leadership within Asia and its global competitiveness," the KPFA said.
Discussions on the calendar switch have been ongoing for years, with most of the major football leagues elsewhere following the fall-spring schedule. In Europe, for instance, the typical season begins in late August and ends in late May.
