The Korean Football Association (KFA) has issued a public apology for what it described as 'various controversies', including allegations reported by South Korean broadcaster JTBC that the KFA paid for sexual services for foreign referees on multiple occasions in 2011 and 2012.
Korean Football Association apologises for 'various controversies', including alleged payments for sexual services for foreign referees
The Korean Football Association (KFA) has issued a public apology for what it described as 'various controversies', including allegations reported by South Korean broadcaster JTBC that the KFA paid for sexual services for foreign referees on multiple occasions in 2011 and 2012.
JTBC reported last Thursday, local time, that the alleged incidents occurred on multiple occasions while foreign referees were in South Korea for qualifying matches for the 2014 World Cup and the 2012 London Olympics. In its report, JTBC cited a 2016 sports ministry investigation that found the KFA had provided what it described as inappropriate entertainment to foreign referees on seven occasions between March 2011 and March 2012, including trips to massage parlours where fees reportedly covered sexual services.
South Korea qualified for both the 2012 Olympic Games and the 2014 World Cup.
In its social media apology, the KFA referenced the team's poor results at this year's World Cup as well as 'media reports regarding events from over a decade ago that even many of our own staff members were unaware of', according to BBC. The KFA said such conduct and misuse of corporate cards was 'absolutely not occurring at the association at present'.
The allegations have compounded existing scrutiny of the KFA over a separate matter: the appointment and subsequent resignation of former national team coach Hong Myung-bo. Hong and KFA president Chung Mong-gyu both resigned following the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after South Korea exited the tournament at the group stage.
Seoul police raided the KFA's offices on Thursday as part of an investigation related to Hong's appointment, police told Reuters. Hong had returned as national team coach in 2024 after a previous spell in charge from 2013 to 2014. His appointment attracted scrutiny after the KFA abandoned a months-long search involving foreign candidates and selected Hong following a brief meeting.
- No response from Hong Myung-bo regarding either the refereeing allegations or the circumstances of his appointment is included in the source.
- No response from former KFA president Chung Mong-gyu is included in the source.
- The source does not state whether any individuals faced disciplinary or legal consequences following the 2016 sports ministry investigation.
- The source does not clarify whether the Seoul police raid on Thursday relates solely to Hong's appointment or encompasses the refereeing allegations as well.
- The source does not detail what specific findings or actions, if any, resulted from the 2016 sports ministry investigation beyond identifying seven incidents.
- The identity or response of the foreign referees allegedly involved is not included in the source.
- The source does not describe the full scope of South Korea's performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup beyond noting a group-stage exit.
Read the original at ABC News Australia