South Korea's national football association issued an apology on Saturday after a media report alleged that it had provided 'sexual services' to foreign referees on multiple occasions more than a decade ago.
South Korean broadcaster JTBC reported on Thursday that the Korea Football Association (KFA) allegedly provided such services to foreign referees in 2011 and 2012. The alleged incidents occurred when the referees were in the country for qualifying matches for the 2014 World Cup and the 2012 London Olympics.
'We deeply apologise for causing concern over various issues involving the association, which emerged from a parliamentary hearing and an unprecedented search and seizure, and from reports about events from more than a decade ago, that even many within the organisation were unaware of,' the KFA said in a statement.
The KFA's apology comes after a 2016 sports ministry investigation, cited by JTBC, which reportedly found that the KFA had provided inappropriate entertainment to foreign referees on seven occasions between March 2011 and March 2012. These incidents allegedly included trips to massage parlours where the cost of sexual services was included in the fees.
The association stated that inappropriate conduct of this kind, or the use of corporate cards for such purposes, is not currently taking place.
Additional Scrutiny
The allegations add to existing scrutiny of the association concerning a separate issue related to the appointment of former national team coach Hong Myung-bo. Seoul police raided the KFA's offices on Thursday as part of an investigation into Hong's appointment. Hong returned as national team coach in 2024, and his selection drew scrutiny after the KFA reportedly abandoned a months-long search for foreign candidates and opted for Hong following a brief meeting. This controversy resurfaced after South Korea's disappointing group-stage exit from the World Cup.