FC Rumor’s inauguration was on February 23, 2020,((FC Rumor’s Instagram post about their inauguration: https://www.instagram.com/p/B80g-5QBjq5/)) and EXID was among many who congratulated them.((FC Rumor’s Instagram post of all of the congratulatory videos they received for their inauguration: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9QyBZ_B3D0/)) Over the next few months, they had a lot of fun and won many games.((FC Rumor’s Instagram is filled with pictures and videos of their soccer team: https://www.instagram.com/p/CAwq6reA7_k/))((FC Rumor’s male soccer team won many games, some of which are listed in this post: https://www.instagram.com/p/B9wpfewhZX6/)) In July, they decided to create a women’s team too.((FC Rumor’s cool video teaser of the women’s team: https://www.instagram.com/p/CCk-h9gAC7A/))
On July 19th, Kim Sejeong posted a picture of 18 women on a futsal court, all with their backs turned to show the names on their soccer uniforms. A banner with the logo of FC Rumor was laid behind them.((kimsejeong_updates‘ Instagram post about the soccer team picture: https://www.instagram.com/p/CCzzrA7lnuD/))
Number | Name | Who? |
#7 | SSONG | Dain, from girl group Wassup |
#40 | NA YOUNG KIM | Nayoung, from girl group Gugudan |
#4 | SEO YEON SHIM | Seoyeon, professional soccer player |
#5 | OH HA YOUNG | Hayoung, from girl group Apink |
#2 | YUJI | Yuji, from girls groups EXID and Bestie |
#12 | CHAE YEON LEE | Chaeyeon Lee, 2017 Miss Korea Daegu |
#3 | YU RI MENTAL | Go Yuri, comedian |
#11 | SEO YOUNG CHO | |
#37 | MINA MYOI | Mina, from girl group Twice |
#42 | ||
#33 | SE JEONG KIM | Sejeong, from girl group Gugudan |
#52 | HWANG HYO JIN | Mei, from girl group OhBliss |
#17 | HYE BIN SHIN | Shin Hyebin, 2017 Miss Korea Incheon |
#77 | EUN BI LEE | Eunbin Lee, 2017 Miss Korea Incheon |
#6 | SA RANG KIM | Kim Sarang, actress |
#21 | JIHYO | Jihyo, from girl group Twice |
#0 | PRINCESS | |
#9 | PARK JEONG HWA | Jeonghwa, from EXID |
FC Rumor reported 21 members on their women’s team.((KMZ’s article about the drama: https://kmzkorea.com/kpop-sejeong-and-oh-hayoungs-fc-rumor-posts-how-the-team-should-be-renamed-as-fc-alcohol-heavy-drinking-much/)) The remaining three may be deduced from a picture that they recently posted. See the bottom row: JUNO (#44), _O YUN JY_ (#10), and _EL GI_ (#?).
The women’s team was created to promote interest in women’s soccer. The members like soccer and want to play it. Please give them a lot of support!((FC Rumor’s apology and explanation: https://www.instagram.com/p/CDuMr1khkv_/))
The Drama
Shortly after the identification of the FC Rumor W team on the 19th, malicious comments started appearing. The comments focused on the women’s team and their interactions with the men’s team: “[they] are going to have interesting outings after the matches which are going to lead to sex and dating and shit”.((@jjpp131211’s Twitter thread explaining the teams and the drama: https://twitter.com/jjpp131211/status/1284984443812413445))
Apink’s Hayeong saw the comments and had received malicious DM’s too. She tweeted an explanation. She clarified that the women only have contact with other women. The women’s team are playing the sport because they love soccer, not to meet with anyone outside the women’s team.((Apink’s Hayeong’s tweet about the malicious DM’s and the women’s team only meeting women: https://twitter.com/Apinkohy/status/1284771219397472257))
Gugudan’s Sejeong also posted an explanation, to her Instagram story. She clarified that there is no relation between the girl and guy team, and she stated that there will be no irrelevant exchanges between them. She went on to state that the reason they gathered as a group is because they like soccer and want to learn it.((@jjpp131211’s Twitter thread explaining the teams and the drama: https://twitter.com/jjpp131211/status/1284984443812413445))
The <original post> about the team members was then removed, and FC Rumor changed their Instagram to private.
Then, Hayeong, Jihyo, and Mina left the team. On a recent VLive, Hayeong said that she left the team on her birthday (the 19th).((Tweeted snippet of Hayeong’s VLive wherein she says the left the team: https://twitter.com/_meungjanz_/status/1293115346832863233))
On August 11th, after changing their account back to public, FC Rumor posted an apology and explanation. They are sorry for causing concern. The team was created as a healthy gathering of people who like soccer. They hope to promote interest in Korean women’s soccer.((FC Rumor’s apology and explanation: https://www.instagram.com/p/CDuMr1khkv_/)) A full translation of FC Rumor’s post was made by @exidistic and can be read <here>.
Lineup Changes
Hayeong, Jihyo, and Mina have left the team.((Tweeted snippet of Hayeong’s VLive wherein she says the left the team: https://twitter.com/_meungjanz_/status/1293115346832863233)) It is not known for sure whether more members left.