South Korea Football Association (KFA) have apologised after it emerged that in 2011 and 2012, sexual services were arranged and paid for foreign referees who were in South Korea for international matches.
South Korean broadcaster JTBC and news agency Yonhap exposed this scandal.
It reportedly involves, among others, referees who were in the country for qualifying matches for the 2014 World Cup and the 2012 Olympic Games. The federation allegedly paid for visits to massage parlors for foreign referees. Sexual services were also offered during those visits.
The KFA said they were shocked by the reporting and emphasised that it concerns events from more than 10 years ago.
“We offer our sincere apologies for the unrest caused by various issues surrounding the union.”
The KFA also stated that such no longer occurs today and that corporate credit cards are not used for such purposes.
For the South Korean Football Association, the revelations come at a particularly bad time.
The KFA are already under heavy fire due to recent developments surrounding the national team. During a parliamentary hearing last week, former national coach Hong Myung-bo offered his apologies for the disappointing performance at the 2026 World Cup, where South Korea were eliminated in the group stage.
President Lee Jae-myung also spoke out critically against the federation. He even called Hong’s appointment an example of cronyism. Moreover, the national coach, who has since resigned, faced death threats following the elimination
Very much unprofessional from the south Korea football association, in the highest order. Full time