Kick a Goal (SBS TV, 2021–) is a sports entertainment show that features a women’s football league created specifically for the series. Is the criticism that it merely portrays women pretending to play the beautiful game valid?
One of the deep-rooted prejudices about women and sports is the belief that women are less interested in sports as participants and fans. Kick a Goal—whose original Korean title translates to Women Hitting the Net of the Goal Post—seems determined to shatter this outdated notion. The show follows basic futsal rules for most matches, with each game consisting of two 10-minute halves and no extra time or overtime. The series also has a strong element of competition between teams made up of non-professional athletes, including celebrities, and coached by former football stars.
In its first season, the league was divided into two groups of three teams each, with the top two teams from each group advancing to a knockout tournament. From the second season onward, the league introduced a division between upper and lower leagues. The top three teams from season one automatically qualified for the Super League, while six other teams, including three new ones, competed in the lower league to earn a spot in the Super League. Following the second season, a promotion and relegation system was established between the Super League and a newly created Challenge League.
It’s clear that the show does not aim to place women on the football field for comic effect. Instead, it intends to showcase female players who strive to reach the final match for the cup, testing their agility, spirit, football skills, and tenacity. Currently, teams like FC Wonder Women and FC Streaming Fighter in the Super League, and FC Anaconda in the Challenge League, are competing to claim victory in the final match.
Even Son Heung-min, a Premier League player, watches the show
Appearing as a special guest, he remarked that the show has contributed to the growing visibility of women’s football in Korea. Son also noted that he closely watches players who show improvement and growth. Some may have initially viewed Kick a Goal as an experimental entertainment show that put women on the football pitch, but it has since evolved into a platform for women to grow as athletes and assert their place in the sport.
However, the show has not been free from controversy. In 2021, SBS TV aired an edited version of a match between FC Gu-cheok Colossus and FC Wonder Women, where the goal tally was manipulated to evolve from 3:0 to 3:2, 4:3, and then 6:3, making FC Gu-cheok Colossus the winner. While FC Colossus did win, the actual match score was 5:0 at halftime and 6:3 at the final whistle. Viewers noticed inconsistencies in the episode and raised suspicions, leading the broadcaster to apologize and attribute the issue to complacency. They also vowed not to repeat the mistake, recognizing that it undermined the players’ hard work.
The root cause of this scandal likely lies not in mere complacency but in a stubborn adherence to conventional sports narratives that are prevalent in media depictions of sports: the neck-and-neck game saved by an underdog player, players doubting themselves only to be inspired by a down-and-out coach, or an injury giving a player time to reflect on their strengths. These trope-like narratives can influence how sports events are constructed and understood. In the editing room, one of these stories likely overshadowed better judgment.
Unfortunately, these story frameworks are often heavily influenced by male perspectives, as they are the historical product of male dominance in sports. In this sense, the decision to edit the match in a certain way represents an attempt to fit the women’s game into a male-oriented narrative. Kick a Goal is a program that is taking steps in new directions. The last thing it needs is to fall back into old narratives, becoming just another vehicle for male perspectives. As the show prepares for a high-stakes match between Korea and Japan, it’s essential that the focus remains on celebrating women’s achievements in sports, rather than being overshadowed by nationalist or patriotic themes.
