Chapter 309: Chapter 256: A Well-Deserved Injury

"What, Zheng Mengjun was sentenced?"

Chen Yu, already in Saitama Prefecture with the Brazil Team for match preparations, received a call from Contiguglia.

Chen Yu didn’t know what would happen to Zheng Mengjun. He had privately asked Dean, but that guy was tight-lipped and didn’t say a thing.

’But since the Internal Revenue Service got involved,’ he thought, ’he theoretically couldn’t get away.’

The key thing was, Chen Yu had assumed it would take a long time.

Zheng Mengjun was arrested on the 19th, and today was the 25th. It had only been a few days.

He was a member of South Korea’s National Assembly, the president of the Football Association, a FIFA vice president, not to mention he had the Hyundai Group backing him. He really wasn’t some insignificant Little Calami like Moreno.

Chen Yu had even imagined him walking out of the police station unscathed, telling the media with a smile that it was all a misunderstanding, and then life would go on as usual.

That’s how it always plays out in Hollywood.

But reality is often more absurd than movies.

’But to get a result in just a few days, and for him to actually be sentenced... it’s a bit mind-boggling.’

Contiguglia, who had already returned to the United States, said, "I didn’t say he was sentenced, just that the legal process is beginning. Besides, you’re in Japan. Don’t you watch the news? Do I have to call and tell you?"

He had called mainly to ask when Chen Yu was returning to the States. The National Team had disbanded, but there were still some follow-up matters to handle. He had only mentioned Zheng Mengjun’s situation in passing, assuming Chen Yu already knew.

Chen Yu explained, "I’ve been busy the last couple of days and haven’t been paying attention. So what’s the specific charge? Will he be extradited to the United States?"

’He bribed me, and since Moreno was taken back to the United States, Zheng Mengjun must have bribed him too. He should also be implicated in tax evasion.’

"No way," Contiguglia immediately denied. "To be honest, I’m not entirely clear on what happened either. The news I saw said he’s suspected of falsifying accounting records and will be prosecuted."

Chen Yu was a bit stunned. ’Falsifying accounting records?’

’The FBI and the IRS both got involved, arrested Zheng Mengjun, and all it amounts to is falsifying accounting records?’

’This world sure is a strange place.’

Contiguglia continued, "That’s right, falsifying accounting records. Specifically, the Korea Sports Association provides the Football Association with a certain amount of funding subsidies each year, and Zheng Mengjun is suspected of embezzling a portion of those funds for improper use."

"Isn’t that ridiculous?" Chen Yu laughed. ’With the Hyundai Group backing him, would Zheng Mengjun really care about such a paltry sum?’

Contiguglia’s tone was also one of exasperation. "It is ridiculous, but what can you do? That’s reality."

After a pause, Contiguglia added with a sigh, "Actually, for a figure of his level, what happened this time is already a huge blow. He might not even be able to continue as a member of the National Assembly. That’s probably more painful for him than going to prison."

’I get it,’ Chen Yu thought to himself. ’Classic Hollywood plot. His political career is over.’

After telling him when he would be back, Chen Yu hung up the phone.

Chen Yu opened his laptop and searched for related news.

However, the hottest news in South Korea right now wasn’t about him, but about the brawl between South Korean and Spanish fans in the stands after the match on the 22nd, which resulted in over a hundred people being injured and hospitalized.

The incident blew up. Not only did their president publicly and severely condemn this act of football hooliganism, but the Prime Minister of Spain also angrily criticized South Korea for its inadequate security.

In short, the impact was terrible.

South Korea had been planning to use this World Cup to showcase "Beautiful South Korea" to the world. Instead, this is what they showcased—all bad things.

Soon, Chen Yu found the news about Zheng Mengjun.

The man had already been released on bail, just this morning at ten o’clock.

There was even video footage online of him walking out of the police station.

But it seemed something had happened.

The video’s headline was: "Furious Fans Surround Zheng Mengjun, Shouting He Is the Disgrace of South Korean Football."

The most prominent thumbnail under the video showed Zheng Mengjun, his face covered in blood, scrambling into a car under the protection of his bodyguards.

’Did he get beaten up?’

Chen Yu shook his head to himself. ’They say the United Kingdom has football hooligans, but are the South Korean ones this vicious too?’

Clicking on the video, Chen Yu realized that wasn’t what had happened.

When Zheng Mengjun first came out, a large crowd of reporters was waiting to interview him, and he was planning to hold a small press conference. But then a horde of fans arrived, and it was true that they were shouting he was the disgrace of South Korean football.

But they didn’t exactly surround him; some fans just threw bags of blood at him.

Watching the chaotic video, Chen Yu sighed softly. ’What a pity. If it weren’t for all the police and bodyguards, that guy might have actually gotten a beating.’

Then, at twelve noon, Zheng Mengjun held another, formal press conference.

There was a video of that too.

In the video, Zheng Mengjun had changed his clothes and looked somewhat haggard. Facing the camera, he bowed deeply in apology, stating that he had failed to meet the expectations of all South Korean fans.

He didn’t mention that one match, probably because he didn’t dare to.

Finally, Zheng Mengjun announced that he would be resigning from his positions as president of the Korea Football Association and member of the National Assembly.

But the furious South Korean fans clearly weren’t buying it. The comments below the news were still a flood of people calling Zheng Mengjun the disgrace of South Korean football, with some clamoring for him to die.

Some media outlets went further, accusing Zheng Mengjun of setting South Korean football back by at least ten years and damaging South Korea’s image and international reputation.

It really was a one-sided chorus of condemnation.

After reading a few more follow-up reports, Chen Yu closed the web page.

’Although it doesn’t feel like a perfect resolution, this matter is probably over now.’

As far as he was concerned, this was just an interlude during the World Cup. From now on, Chen Yu probably wouldn’t have anything more to do with South Korean football.

That’s what he thought, but to his surprise, the next afternoon, Chen Yu received a call from a man claiming to be an official from the Korea Sports Association.

"You want me to treat Park Ji-sung?"

Chen Yu almost thought he was hearing things.

On the other end of the line, the official, a Mr. Li, said hurriedly, "Yes, Dr. Chen. You are the best doctor in the world. You’ve healed so many top players. Park Ji-sung has now torn his cruciate ligament, and we believe only you can save his career."

"Ha!"

Chen Yu almost laughed out loud. ’What is with the logic of these South Koreans? That incident happened right in front of my eyes. And to this day, not a single South Korean player has stepped forward to publicly apologize.’

’And under these circumstances, they still have the nerve to come to me and ask me to save Park Ji-sung’s career.’

’Why don’t you stop and think about whether Donovan’s career needs saving?’

"By the way, where did you say he was injured again?" Chen Yu asked, controlling his tone.

The person on the other end, thinking he had a chance, quickly replied, "He has a ruptured cruciate ligament in his left knee, a torn lateral collateral ligament, along with a torn meniscus and a cartilage fracture in the knee joint. It’s very tricky. We’ve checked with every hospital in South Korea, but none can guarantee he’ll be able to return to the field. That’s why, in the whole world, only you have this ability. Rest assured, we are willing to pay one million US dollars for the treatment fee."

Of the four main players taken out by the United States Team, Ryu Hyang-tae and Jin Taiying’s injuries weren’t serious.

As for An Zhenhuan, who was hit in the head, he had a broken nose and a concussion, which were relatively okay—they were straightforward injuries.

Only Park Ji-sung’s was different. That scissor tackle was devastating; you could say it completely wrecked his knee. In the doctor’s words, forget returning to the field—it would be a great outcome if he didn’t end up crippled for life.

"Good," Chen Yu said.

"Dr. Chen, does that mean you agree?" The official, Mr. Li, was thrilled. To be honest, before making the call, they weren’t confident at all, fearing Chen Yu would refuse. But after thinking it over, they realized no one besides Chen Yu could treat Park Ji-sung. Plus, they figured that since Chen Yu was a doctor, he wouldn’t turn down good money.

"Agree?" Chen Yu scoffed. "Which ear did you hear me agree with? When I said ’good,’ I was referring to the injury."

’An injury like that is a career-ender.’

’Not everyone can be a Baggio.’

’You could say that besides me, no one can get Park Ji-sung back on the field.’

’But it comes back to the same question: why should I treat him?’

Without waiting for the other person to say more, Chen Yu hung up and blocked the number.

’What’s with their baffling confidence? They must be out of their minds. Coming to me for treatment, and even trying to buy me with money. Do I look like someone who needs a million US dollars?’

The call left a bad taste in Chen Yu’s mouth for a while.

He packed his things. Tonight, at 8:30 PM, Brazil would face its most challenging opponent of this World Cup: Argentina.

In yesterday’s match, Italy had already successfully eliminated Spain 1-0, becoming the first team to advance to the final.

Italy’s journey had been a bumpy one. They rarely won by a large margin, but they just kept winning all the way to the final.

They relied on their defense.

Yesterday’s game against Spain was the same. Spain had relentlessly attacked Italy’s goal for a while, but they just couldn’t score.

In the end, Italy seized an opportunity, allowing Vieri to score on a counterattack.

’Today’s already the 26th.’

Chen Yu’s thoughts turned to home; it was the 25th in the United States.

The draft would start tomorrow night.

Chen Yu had been following the news, but there was still no update on the O’Neal trade.

Chen Yu considered whether he should call Brian to ask about the situation.

’He was just curious if the trade could be completed before the draft.’

Just as he was thinking about it, his phone rang again.

It was a rather unexpected number: Baggio.

"Chen, when are you heading out? Want to meet for a cup of coffee before the match?" Baggio asked cheerfully.

Chen Yu was taken aback. "You guys are in Japan?"

They had a match in South Korea yesterday, which meant they came straight to Japan right after the game.

"That’s right. We arrived in Yokohama this morning. The coaching staff is going to watch the Brazil vs. Argentina match live, and I’m planning to go with them. The game doesn’t start for a little while, so I thought we could meet up and chat." Italy’s opponent would be the winner of the match between Argentina and Brazil.

So for such an important match, Trapattoni would definitely want to come and scout them in person.

Besides, arriving early meant more time to prepare, and in terms of facilities, South Korea really couldn’t compare to Japan.

"Sure. Are you in Yokohama or Saitama?" Chen Yu hadn’t seen Baggio for a while, not since the group stage ended, and didn’t know how he was doing.

’He had clearly played well in the last group stage match, so why hadn’t he appeared in any of the subsequent games?’