South Korea FA apologize for offering ‘sexual providers’ for overseas referees
The South Korea Football Association has apologised over allegations relating to qualifiers for World Cup 2014 and the London 2012 Olympic Games
South Korea’s players gather in a circle during the 2026 World Cup(Image: (Ulises RUIZ / AFP via Getty Images))
South Korea’s national football association has apologised after a media report alleged it had provided “sexual services” to foreign referees. The incidents are claimed to have happened when match officials were in the country for international matches more than a decade ago.
South Korean broadcaster JTBC reported on Thursday that the Korea Football Association (KFA) had provided such services to foreign referees on multiple occasions in 2011 and 2012. These incidents also include when they were in the country for qualifying matches for the 2014 World Cup and the 2012 London Olympics.
The KFA did not immediately respond to an email seeking further comment and details. However, the KFA offered their apologies in a statement on Saturday and declared that such activity was not currently taking place.
The Korea Football Association House(Image: (GREG BAKER / AFP via Getty Images))
The statement read: “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 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 add to scrutiny of the association over a separate issue involving the appointment of former national team coach Hong Myung-bo. Seoul police raided the KFA’s offices on Thursday as part of an investigation related to Hong’s appointment.
Hong Myung-bo arrives back in South Korea following the World Cup(Image: (JADE GAO / AFP via Getty Images))
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung provided a damning assessment of his country’s World Cup campaign and exit on social media. He wrote: “I am not just taken aback by this unexpected outcome, I am utterly baffled.
“Once again, it has been proven that personnel decisions are everything. When loyalty and factionalism are valued over competence, and an incapable person is appointed as a leader, the outcome is as predictable as fire.”
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