SEOUL: South Korea’s national football association has apologised after a media report alleged that foreign referees were provided with inappropriate entertainment, including sexual services, during international matches in the country more than a decade ago.
South Korean broadcaster JTBC reported that the Korea Football Association (KFA) provided such services to foreign referees on several occasions in 2011 and 2012, including during qualifying matches for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2012 London Olympics.
The KFA said it deeply regretted the controversy and apologised for concerns arising from reports about incidents that took place more than a decade ago.
According to JTBC, a 2016 investigation by South Korea’s sports ministry found that the KFA had provided inappropriate entertainment to foreign referees on seven occasions between March 2011 and March 2012. The investigation reportedly included visits to massage parlours where payments covered sexual services.
The KFA did not immediately provide further details but said such conduct was not currently taking place.
“The association makes clear that inappropriate conduct of this kind, or the use of corporate cards for such purposes, is absolutely not currently taking place,” the KFA said in its statement.
The allegations come as the football association is already facing scrutiny over the appointment of former national team coach Hong Myung-bo.
Seoul police raided the KFA’s offices as part of an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Hong’s appointment. Hong returned as South Korea’s national team coach in 2024 after previously managing the side from 2013 to 2014.
His appointment attracted criticism after the KFA ended a lengthy search involving foreign candidates and selected Hong following a brief meeting.
The controversy has resurfaced amid criticism of South Korea’s performance at the World Cup, where the team was eliminated in the group stage.
